Bulgarian and Romanian commissioners approved by EP

12.00.00am GMT Tue 12th Dec 2006

In an almost unanimous show of support for the Bulgarian and Romanian nominees for the post of European commissioner, the European Parliament voted to approve their nomination. Both Meglena Kuneva and Leonard Orban obtained almost 600 votes each in today's parliamentary vote with only a handful of dissonant voices from the assembly's eurosceptics.

"It is fitting that those who bore the burden of accession negotiations bear some of the fruit of their labours," said Graham Watson, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.

"Mrs. Kuneva and Mr. Orban have a great deal to contribute to Europe. The depth of knowledge they have gleaned from the negotiation process will stand them in good stead for the collegial decision-making on the upper floors of the Berlaymont."

"The appointment of these two new commissioners has, however, underlined the need for institutional reform in Europe. Liberals and Democrats support enlargement of the Union but not continual enlargement of the college of commissioners or Court of Auditors."

"There are clearly not enough substantial portfolios to go around. Europe needs a slimmer and leaner Commission that acts more in the Community interest and is less geared to representing Member States."

In a separate vote, Parliament also approved today the nominations of Nadezhda Sandalova and Ovidiu Ispir from Bulgaria and Romania for the European Court of Auditors.