Brussels, 06/07/2016 (Agence Europe) - In a letter dated 5 July, a copy of which has been obtained by EUROPE, sent to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Parliament President Martin Schulz calls for consideration to be given to revision of the code of conduct for commissioners, should former industry commissioner Günter Verheugen continue to ignore MEPs.
The pressure has just been cranked up for the former German commissioner to appear before the European Parliament committee of inquiry (EMIS committee) charged with shedding light on the Volkswagen scandal on 14 July. As previously suggested by EUROPE, (EUROPE 11578), Schulz has decided to ask the Commission president to intervene personally to support the call by MEPs, in the first place, and, in the second, to ensure that the code of conduct that governs the behaviour of commissioners is respected.
Unlike former environment commissioners Stavros Dimas and Janez Potocnik and former industry commissioner Antonio Tajani, Verheugen has twice, and despite the personal request by Schulz, turned down MEPs' invitations to appear before the committee. Schulz says it is the former commissioner's “democratic responsibility” to make himself available to answer for decisions taken on his watch.
Were Verheugen again to refuse to appear, Schulz is of the view that the code of conduct for members of the Commission should be revised as a matter of urgency so that no such situations can arise in future and that Parliament can fully discharge its responsibility for oversight.
Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D, Belgium), who chairs the EMIS committee, says that it would be unthinkable at national level for a former minister to behave in such a manner and refuse to appear before a parliamentary committee of inquiry. She told EUROPE that she was astonished at this turn of events, pointing out that industry representatives all agreed to be questioned by MEPs while the Commission appears disinclined to cooperate.
Recently van Brempt explicitly asked the Commission to allow access to the minutes of the meetings of the technical committee on motor vehicles (TCMV), as the European Parliament has been seeking since 22 April. According to several sources, the request is being frustrated not so much by current Industry Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska as by Vice-President with responsibility for Employment and Growth Jyrki Katainen (EUROPE 11585). The Commission apparently fears setting a precedent as the committee of inquiry into the Panama Papers is being formed (EUROPE 11579).
Another observer suggests that the Commission will have to redeem itself as quickly as possible, facing criticism as it does following Brexit, with some leading national politicians looking to rein in its powers. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)