Money matters to dominate Parliament quiz

Date: 23/09/04

THE financial history of the incoming commissioners will be the focus of most attention when their hearings begin at the European Parliament on Monday (27 September).

Each will be required to detail financial assets and business links before they take office on 1 November, as part of president-in-waiting José Manuel Barroso's steps to improve transparency.

The Dane Mariann Fischer Boel, the designated commissioner for agriculture, will be questioned over recent reports that she did not declare a family stake in a Russian pig farm.

The Danish Eurosceptic MEP Jens-Peter Bonde says he plans to quiz Fischer Boel about financial matters when she appears before the agriculture and rural development committee on 6 October.

Her statements to the Commission omitted to mention that her husband had been part of a six-man consortium of Danish farmers behind Agripo Holding, which operates a large pig farm near Moscow.

Bonde said: "As a Danish member, I do not like having to appear in the committee and ask unpleasant questions to the commissioner that the majority of my country's parliament has nominated. On the other hand, she simply has to divulge full information and I would advise her to do this, preferably before the meeting."

In a parallel move, Paul van Buitenen, the former Commission official turned whistleblower and now an MEP, is gunning for his compatriot, Neelie Kroes, designate competition commissioner. He has sent letters to the Dutch government and to Barroso detailing his concerns about her interests.

Kroes appears before MEPs on Tuesday (28 September).

Parliament can vote against the whole Commission team but not against individual commissioners.

Article previews the hearings of the designated European Commissioners at the European Parliament, taking place between 27 September and 8 October 2004 and being a part of the Investiture Procedure of the 2004-2009 Commission.

European Parliament: Activities: Hearings: Investiture Procedure of the 2004-2009 Commission - Hearings of the Commissioners Designate http://europarl.europa.eu/hearings/commission/2004_comm/default_en.htm

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