Appointment of Martin Selmayr as Commission’s Secretary-General discussed at the European Parliament

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Series Details March 2018
Publication Date 27/03/2018
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Summary:

The appointment of Martin Selmayr as secretary-general of the European Commission was subject to examination during the plenary session of the European Parliament on 12 March 2018. The chamber's Budgetary Control Committee announced a probe on this appointment - a hearing was held on 27 March.

Further information:

Mr Selmayr's appointment was criticised as non-transparent at the plenary session. His rapid route to the position was seen by some as manipulated, while others praised his work as Head of Cabinet to the Commission's President. The chamber was unanimous in highlighting the damage the appointment could inflict to the image of EU institutions. The appointment was announced on 21 February 2018, as part of a wider restructuring of the European Commission's senior management team.

Ar a hearing with the European Commissioner Günther Oettinger, the European Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee stated on 27 March that the appointment lacked transparency and suggested changes to the rules setting out the appointment procedures of EU officials.

Related Links
The Guardian, 12.03.18: Angry MEPs attack Juncker over elevation of his 'monster' Selmayr https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/12/nasty-political-games-row-over-top-eu-appointment-martin-selmayr
EurActiv, 13.03.18: Budget committee to look into ‘Selmayrgate’ after fury in Strasbourg https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/budget-committee-to-look-into-selmayrgate-after-fury-in-strasbourg/
Politico, 12.03.18: MEPs on Selmayrgate: It ‘destroys’ EU credibility https://www.politico.eu/article/martin-selmayr-sophie-int-veld-selmayrgate-destroys-eu-credibility-says-liberal-mep/
BBC News, 11.03.18: Martin Selmayr: The man at the heart of a Brussels saga http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-43366724
Sputnik International, 13.03.18: Nigel Farage Slams EU Commission for Lack of Transparency in Selmayr's Promotion https://sputniknews.com/europe/201803131062459897-ukip-farage-transparency-selmayr-appointment/
Euronews, 12.03.18: Martin Selmayr: why such a fuss over the 'Beast of the Berlaymont'? http://www.euronews.com/2018/03/12/martin-selmayr-why-such-a-fuss-over-the-beast-of-the-berlaymont-
European Commission: Appointment of Mr Selmayr as Secretary-General decided in full compliance with all legal rules [Q&A] http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-18-2545_en.htm
The Guardian, 27.03.18: MEPs raise cronyism concerns at hiring of Juncker successor https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/27/meps-raise-cronyism-concerns-at-hiring-of-jean-claude-juncker-successor
EUObserver, 27.03.18: EU commissioner ducks questions on Selmayr affair https://euobserver.com/institutional/141465
Politico, 27.03.18: Oettinger on Selmayrgate: Nothing to see here https://www.politico.eu/article/gunther-oettinger-martin-selmayr-promotion-european-parliament-on-selmayrgate-nothing-to-see-here/
European Parliament, 27.03.18: MEPs deplore lack of transparency in selecting EU Commission Secretary General http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20180327IPR00656/
European Commission: European Commission replies to follow-up questions of the European Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee on the appointment of its new Secretary-General [Q&A] http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-18-2822_en.htm
EurActiv, 20.03.18: Key EU lawmakers committee to query Selmayr’s promotion at hearing https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/key-eu-lawmakers-committee-to-query-selmayrs-promotion-at-hearing/
European Commission: Statement by Commissioner Oettinger at the European Parliament Plenary session on the integrity policy of the European Commission, in particular the appointment of the Secretary-General of the European Commission http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-18-1882_en.htm
Politico, 25.03.18: Martin Selmayr’s appointment not unusual: Commission https://www.politico.eu/article/martin-selmayr-juncker-cabinet-european-commission-not-unusual-juncker-selmayrgate/
Euro|topics, March 2018: EU under fire over political post trading http://www.eurotopics.net/en/194935/eu-under-fire-over-political-post-trading
EurActiv, 27.03.18: Selmayr’s EU promotion was partly ‘political’, Oettinger admits https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/selmayrs-eu-promotion-was-partly-political-oettinger-admits/
EUObserver, 12.03.18: EU parliament united against Selmayr promotion https://euobserver.com/institutional/141290
Politico [Opinion]: The misunderstood Herr Selmayr https://www.politico.eu/article/martin-selmayr-european-commission-brussels-secretary-general-misunderstood-brussels-sketch/
Politico, 12.03.18: European People’s Party split over Martin Selmayr promotion https://www.politico.eu/article/european-peoples-party-epp-split-over-martin-selmayr-promotion-european-commission/
European Parliament: Press Release, 19.03.18: Brexit Steering Group reaction to Joint Draft Withdrawal Agreement http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20180319IPR00022/

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