Brussels, 26/08/2014 (Agence Europe) - Belgian newspapers De Tijd and L'Echo reported on Tuesday 26 August that Belgian MEP Marianne Thyssen has openly expressed interest in becoming a European commissioner, saying she was willing and motivated to take the job.
Belgian political parties are busy negotiating the formation of a new coalition federal government and have until the end of this week to appoint the Belgian member of Jean-Claude Juncker's new European Commission. Didier Reynders, Foreign Minister in the out-going government, is also one of the people who might be appointed commissioner, but MEP Marianne Thyssen has the advantage of being a woman and Juncker is keen to increase the number of women commissioners. There are currently far fewer women than in the second Barroso Commission.
Thyssen, who used to chair the Flemish CD&V party, said she had the support of all sides in Europe and even Jean-Claude Juncker had told her that he would like her to join his team and hoped it would happen. (SP)