Member States' ambassadors to the EU (Coreper) will discuss on Wednesday 30 October the internal procedure that the EU Council will follow to determine its position on the selection of the next European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS).
In a note dated 25 October, of which EUROPE has had a copy, the Finnish Presidency of the EU Council proposes a way forward which must be endorsed by the Member States.
The EDPS must be appointed by common agreement between the EU Council and the European Parliament, on the basis of a list of at least three candidates drawn up by the Commission. A few weeks ago, the EU Council was concerned that it had still not received this list (EUROPE 12236/6) and, at press time, it had still not received it. According to a European source, it should however be sent this week.
The proposed procedure provides for the possibility of holding hearings of all the candidates on the list at Coreper, on the basis of a list of common questions prepared in consultation with the delegates of the EU Council's Antici Group.
As with the appointment of the European Chief Prosecutor (see EUROPE 12335/9), a ranking by means of an indicative and secret vote at Coreper was preferred. The Finnish Presidency therefore proposes that each delegation be invited to award three points to its favourite candidate, and in descending order of preference, two points and one point respectively to the other candidates.
A trio of ambassadors not having the nationality of any of the pre-selected candidates will then be responsible for conducting negotiations with the European Parliament. The voting rule applicable to the EU Council is the reinforced qualified majority, the note states. (Original version in French by Marion Fontana)