Committees satisfied that Oettinger is in a position to assume budget portfolio

Following an exchange of views with the members of the Committees on Budgets, Budgetary Control and Legal Affairs, a majority of the committees’ coordinators were satisfied that Commissioner Günther Oettinger i is in a position to assume the portfolio that is transferred to him and look forward to a close working relationship.

This was communicated to the Conference of Presidents in a from the Chairs of the BUDG, CONT and JURI Committees, Jean Arthuis i, Ingeborg Gräßle and Pavel Svoboda i, addressed to President Martin Schulz i.

Commissioner Oettinger was heard on Monday evening at a meeting of the Committees on Budgets, Budgetary Control and Legal Affairs following Commission President Juncker's decision to transfer the Budget and Human Resources portfolio to Mr Oettinger after Vice-President Kristalina Georgieva i had resigned. The portfolio of Digital Economy and Society, which Mr Oettinger held until the end of last year, was temporarily assigned to Vice-President Andrus Ansip i by Mr Juncker.

On Thursday, the Conference of Presidents (EP President and group leaders) took note of the letter sent by the committees and the President announced that it will be transmitted to the President of the Commission.

REF. : 20170111IPR57704