Brussels, 16/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - Kathleen van Brempt (S&D, Belgium), chair of the European Parliament's special commission of inquiry into the Volkswagen scandal (EMIS), is planning to call on the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, if former Industry Commissioner Günther Verheugen persists in keeping silent despite the raft of requests from MEPs for him to give evidence on 14 July.
This was confirmed to this newsletter on Friday 17 June by van Brempt herself. After the former commissioner's first rejection of the invitation from the secretariat of the commission of inquiry (see EUROPE 11558), it was decided to get the president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, to intervene in person to get the former commissioner to change his mind.
In his letter dated 26 May, Schulz said he was surprised at Verheugen's refusal, reminding him that the commission was working in the interest of European citizens and it was the former commissioner's responsibility to provide information and account for action taken during his time in office. He also pointed out that former environment commissioner Stavros Dimas (2004- 2010) had agreed to attend. Finally, he stressed the importance of having open, democratic and transparent European institutions.
But EP several sources say that the Parliament president's request has fallen on deaf ears for the moment. Van Brempt expressed her discontent to this newsletter. Earlier in the week she had asked Schulz to contact Verheugen by telephone to apply further pressure. If no response is forthcoming, then on Monday 20 June, van Brempt would consider going straight to Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker and asking him to intervene.
Verheugen said on 19 May that only the current European Commission can provide the necessary information because it has all the relevant documents at its disposal and therefore he did not see what value-added there would be to him intervening on 14 July.
The next meeting of EMIS will be on 20 and 21 June. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)