On Wednesday 23 November, Jens Gieseke (EPP, Germany) was appointed by the group of coordinators of the committee of investigation into the Volkswagen scandal (EMIS) to replace the EPP co-rapporteur, Pablo Zalba Bidegain (EPP, Spain). The only problem is that the German MEP is very much in favour of diesel vehicles and comes from Lower Saxony, where the Volkswagen group has its headquarters.
Unsurprisingly, the appointment has caused controversy at the Parliament. "Of course, he comes from Lower Saxony (…), which is enough to raise eyebrows, but I am sure that he will prove (that our fears) are unfounded", Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA, Netherlands) stated in a written response to EUROPE, trying to play down the matter. This optimism was not shared by another parliamentary source, who preferred to remain anonymous. "With Gieseke's appointment, the EPP seems to be toughening its stance just as the 'shadow meetings' (meetings between the co-rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs: Ed) to draft the report of the EMIS committee are getting underway". Our source reminded us of the positions taken by the German MEP, who may wish to protect the national car-builder and, more generally, diesel, a technology he has openly supported in his speeches at the meetings of the committee. However, the MEP is a particularly involved member of the EMIS committee, having not missed a single meeting thus far.
"This appointment will have no impact on the timetable of the committee", a third parliamentary source said, going on to acknowledge that this does not come at an ideal moment. However, it was in order to avoid any delays that no votes against the new co-rapporteur were considered, a source told us.
The EPP put Gieseke forward as a candidate after his predecessor left the European Parliament due to his recent appointment by the Spanish Council of Ministers to head up the Instituto de Crédito Oficial, a national public bank. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)