Strasbourg, 25/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - The possibility of a shortened mandate is becoming ever stronger for Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas. Estonia's current Prime Minister Andrus Ansip has announced that he will resign on 4 March - which could precipitate Kallas' return to the Estonian political scene. Kallas and Ansip both belong to the same political movement, the Reform Party, which was founded by Kallas. Kallas has already served as prime minister of his country in 2002-2003.
Kallas could be approached to form a government in Estonia and will travel there at the weekend to discuss the situation. The European Commission has not denied the possibility of Kallas terminating his European mandate early or of being a potential candidate to lead his country. Nevertheless, there is reportedly no definite line on how to replace him in Brussels. The possibility of Ansip taking over the post of European Commissioner for Transport for a few months, or of the portfolio being taken on by another commissioner are both feasible alternatives. (MD/transl.fl)