Brussels, 03/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - Quizzed on Tuesday 3 December about the fate of Euro Commissioner Olli Rehn when he joins the Liberal campaign for the European elections in May 2014, the European Commission rejected the idea of a legal vacuum developing in the spring.
Any commissioner wanting to stand in the European elections is free to decide when he/she starts campaigning and takes leave from the European Commission, but there is a certain timescale that must respected with regard to the work of the College of Commissioners, explained European Commission spokesman Olivier Bailly. The commissioners' code of conduct says that the candidate shall start their period of election leave no later than after the final sitting of the European Parliament before the elections. If Rehn takes unpaid election leave, a replacement will not have to be found because the other commissioners will continue his work, added Bailly. The date on which he starts campaigning will be decided in conjunction with the president of the Commission. (SP/transl.fl)