24/10/2019 (Agence Europe) – The United Kingdom will have to appoint a European Commissioner if it is still a Member of the European Union after 1st November, the President-elect of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, repeated in Helsinki on 24 October. By the end of the week, the Twenty-Seven are expected to respond positively to the UK's request for a third extension of the Brexit negotiating deadlines, the duration of which has yet to be specified. The 'von der Leyen' College will be in place by 1st December at best, which would allow the United Kingdom to gain some time. Unlike France (see EUROPE 12356/2), Romania has still not proposed a candidate Commissioner. The President-elect will meet with London to ensure that the Commissioner-designate is appointed by the time the College takes office. The Treaties provide that the Commission shall be composed of one European Commissioner per Member State. (SP)