High marks for Piebalgs' European Parliament questioning session

The newspaper ''Financial Times'' (FT) has rated 24 of the 26 incoming European commissioners, who have appeared for hearings before the European Parliament, and has given them ratings out of five for their performance in their questioning sessions.

Current European Commission (EC) Energy Commissioner from Latvia Andris Piebalgs, who has been nominated for the development commissioner portfolio in the new EC, received high marks from FT, as the newspaper gave Piebalgs a four (out of five).

''The current energy commissioner turned a hostile crowd around by giving substantive answers to development-themed questions. He even ventured into substantive policy, endorsing a Tobin-type tax on currency trading, and admitted a lack of familiarity with ''Twitter'','' the newspaper writes about Piebalgs.

Four out of five stars were given to ten other commissioner candidates - from Poland, Finland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Ireland, Malta, Germany, Denmark and Romania.

Current EC Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner from Spain Joaquin Almunia, who has been nominated for the competition commissioner portfolio in the new EC, was the only commissioner candidate to receive a perfect score, or five stars from FT.

Nine commissioner candidates received a satisfactory three out of five rating, including Estonian candidate Siim Kallas, who has been nominated for the transport commissioner portfolio.

On the other hand, Great Britain's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy candidate Catherine Ashton and Lithuania's taxation and customs union, audit and anti-fraud commissioner candidate Algirdas Semeta received a mediocre two out of five rating from FT.

On the other hand, Bulgaria's humanitarian aid commissioner candidate Rumiana Jeleva, who has since withdrawn her candidacy, received a dismal one out of five rating.

Bulgaria has proposed World Bank Vice-President Kristalina Georgieva as its new nominee for EU commissioner. This means that there will be a further delay in the appointment of a new Commission, which was previously set to be confirmed on January 26, due to the fact that Georgieva still has to go through her questioning session with the European Parliament. This could take place on February 3, whilst the new date for the confirmation of the next Commission could take place on February 9.

LETA

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