Brussels, 19/01/2021 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 19 January, the Council of the EU appointed Marek Opioła, from Poland, as a member of the European Court of Auditors for a term of office beginning on 1 February 2021 and ending on 6 May 2022, despite the unfavourable opinion provided by the European Parliament at the end of 2020 (see EUROPE 12623/22). Mr Opioła, who will replace the current European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, was previously Vice-President of the Supreme Audit Office of Poland and was a member if the Sejm (the Polish parliament) from 2005 to 2019 as part of the ruling party, PiS. The European Court of Auditors has indicated that the specific tasks of Mr Opioła will be decided at a forthcoming meeting of its members. (MB)