Appointment of Janusz Wojciechowski as European Commissioner for Agriculture

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Publication Date 2019
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Summary:

Reports, analyses and information on the appointment of Poland's Janusz Wojciechowski as European Commissioner for Agriculture, in the European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen.

Further information:

Janusz Wojciechowski was a member of the European Court of Auditors (ECA) and also elected a member of the European Parliament. He became Poland's candidate for the College of Commissioner following the withdrawal of a previous name, Krzysztof Szczerski, who felt unable to master the portfolio which had been offered to the country. It was later revealed that Mr Wojciechowski had become subject to an inquest by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), which was later brought to an end following the return of expenses under investigation.

Mr Wojciechowski was formally announced on 9 September 2019 by the President of the European Commission. His portfolio was known on the following day, set to take on the role as the European Commissioner for Agriculture. The relevant committees of the European Parliament held a hearing with Mr Wojciechowski on 1 October, in order to assess his capabilities to lead the portfolio. Media sources later reported that the committees had not been impressed by the performance of the Polish candidate and intended to request further grilling. A second hearing was held on 8 October, which eventually led to the endorsement of the candidate.

Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
Wikipedia: Janusz Wojciechowski https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janusz_Wojciechowski
Agriland, 10/09/2019: Janusz Wojciechowski: Who is the new agriculture commissioner? https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/janusz-wojciechowski-who-is-the-new-agriculture-commissioner/
EPRS: Briefing, September 2019: Hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Janusz Wojciechowski - Agriculture https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2019)642194

News
Politico, 07/09/2019: Polish commissioner candidate under investigation by EU anti-fraud agency https://www.politico.eu/article/janusz-wojciechowski-polish-commissioner-candidate-under-investigation-by-eu-anti-fraud-agency/
Politico, 13/09/2019: Polish commissioner candidate says he has ‘nothing to hide’ in expenses probe https://www.politico.eu/article/next-european-agriculture-commissioner-janusz-wojciechowski-says-he-has-nothing-to-hide-in-eu-expenses-probe/
EurActiv, 24/09/2019: Polish minister: EU farm nominee knows ‘specificity’ of Eastern agriculture https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/polish-minister-eu-farm-nominee-knows-specificity-of-eastern-agriculture/
Reuters, 27/09/2019: Poland's EU commission candidate secures fraud reprieve https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKBN1WC2C8
Deutsche Welle, 27/09/2019: Poland's European Commission candidate gets fraud reprieve https://p.dw.com/p/3QO1Q
Politico, 27/09/2019: Poland’s Commission candidate returns EU funds after probe https://www.politico.eu/article/polands-commission-candidate-returns-eu-funds-after-probe/
Agriland, 01/10/2019: ‘Europe loses 1,000 farms per day’ – new agriculture commissioner https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/europe-loses-1000-farms-per-day-new-agriculture-commissioner/
Politico, 01/10/2019: EU farm nominee faces further grilling after botched hearing https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-farm-nominee-janusz-wojciechowski-faces-further-grilling-after-botched-hearing/
EurActiv, 02/10/2019: Hogan’s CAP proposal is ‘not the Bible’, says Wojciechowski to save his neck https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/hogans-cap-proposal-is-not-the-bible-says-wojciechowski-to-save-his-neck/
EurActiv, 02/10/2019: Wojciechowski’s poor performance adds to von der Leyen’s woes https://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/news/wojciechowski-poor-performance-adds-to-von-der-leyens-woes/
EUObserver, 02/10/2019: Poland's 'vague' nominee flops in EU hearing https://euobserver.com/eu-election/146136
EUObserver, 08/10/2019: Polish EU nominee gets through at second attempt https://euobserver.com/institutional/146199
Politico, 08/10/2019: MEPs accept Wojciechowski as EU farm commissioner https://www.politico.eu/article/meps-accept-wojciechowski-as-eu-farm-commissioner/

Official
European Commission: President-elect von der Leyen’s Mission Letter to Januz Wojciechowski https://ec.europa.eu/commission/files/janusz-wojciechowskis-mission-letter_en
European Parliament: Janusz Wojciechowski’s replies to the European Parliament questionnaire https://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/media/20190927RES62448/20190927RES62448.pdf
European Parliament: Public Hearings of Commissioner-designate Janusz Wojciechowski, October 2019 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/hearings2019/commission-hearings-2019/20190910STO60730/janusz-wojciechowski-poland
European Parliament: Press Release, 01/10/2019: Hearing of Commissioner-designate Janusz Wojciechowski https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190926IPR62233/
European Parliament: Press Release, 08/10/2019: Resumed hearing of Commissioner-designate Janusz Wojciechowski https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20191007IPR63605/

EurActiv, 08/10/2019: Not getting lost in translation, Wojciechowski wins nod from MEPs https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/not-getting-lost-in-translation-wojciechowski-wins-nod-from-meps/

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Record URL https://www.europeansources.info/record/?p=519774