30/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - Controversial appointment of Croatian national. The ALDE group at the EU, along with the EPP, S&D, Greens/EFA and GUE, wants the Council of Ministers to explain why it appointed Croatian candidate Neven Mates as a judge at the European Court of Auditors, despite opposition from the European Parliament (see EUROPE 10865). Despite a negative opinion issued by the Parliament in June, the member states decided to appoint the Croat in July. Jan Mulder wants to know whether the ministers had taken account of the fact that Mates himself had said that he'd withdraw if the Parliament opposed his appointment. Mulder said that they were currently assessing the legal implications and possible consequences of postponing the upcoming hearings with other candidates for the Court of Auditors. If the Council's response is unsatisfactory, then the Parliament would be forced to take an extreme line, he added. (LC/transl.fl)