EP committee blocks Hungarian nominee for Commissioner
Citing concerns about conflicts of interest, the EP's Legal Affairs Committee blocked Rovana Plumb of Romania, the nominee for transport commissioner, and Hungary's László Trócsányi, who was in line to be commissioner for relations with the EU's neighbors.
The unprecedented move means the pair cannot proceed to confirmation hearings that begin next week for von der Leyen's Commission, which is due to take office on 1 November.
According to EU rules, if the committee concludes a nominee could not carry out the duties of a commissioner, the Parliament president should ask the Commission chief how she plans to proceed. Von der Leyen could try to address the committee's concerns and ask MEPs to reconsider the nominees. She could also withdraw the nominees and ask their governments to put forward new candidates.
Sassoli's move could now solve the problem, provided the legal committee arrives at a more favourable conclusion the second time around.
