The liberals in the European Parliament have called for a last-minute reshuffle while the Greens decided to vote against the new European Commission led by Jean-Claude Juncker. EurActiv France reports.
Parliamentary groups have been trying to extract last-minute concessions from Jean-Claude Juncker in the run-up to a confirmation vote on the new Commission team scheduled in Strasbourg on Wednesday (22 October).
The main areas of contention are the distribution of portfolios and the Commission's priorities.
Despite having the support of the two main groups in the European Parliament, the new Commission President spent Tuesday negotiating with MEPs ahead of the vote on Wednesday.
The leader of the liberal (ALDE) group, Guy Verhofstadt, said on Tuesday "our group will make its decision tonight".
Liberals not prepared to grant free reign
For the liberals, the major obstacle is Tibor Navrascis, the Hungarian Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Citizenship, whom Parliament has condemned for his close links to the government of Viktor Orban, with its less than shining record on civil liberties.
"We do not think he can take on the Citizenship portfolio. We expect clarification on this issue," Guy Verhofstadt explained, adding that a reshuffle among the Commissioners was "absolutely necessary".
"The hearings must have consequences," he continued, referring to the Parliamentary Committee for Culture and Education's vote to reject the Hungarian Commissioner on 6 October.
The division of economic competencies across different portfolios is another cause of scepticism in the liberal camp. "We have received a letter from Jean-Claude Juncker detailing the responsibilities of each Commissioner, which we will discuss this evening within our group," Guy Verhofstadt said on Tuesday.
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Liberals demand last-minute concessions in return for Juncker vote