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Fico: No Need to Heed Opposition's Comments on Sefcovic's Post
Thursday 03 December 2009 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, December 3 (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico said Thursday in Parliament that he is convinced it's a great success for Slovakia that it has gained the EU Commission's post of Vice-chairman for Inter-institutional Relations and Administration.
Fico added that there is no need to pay any heed to the Opposition's disappointment about this post.
Some Oppositon MPs in connection with the naming of the Slovak diplomat Maros Sefcovic to this post said it's a disappointment especially because Fico was rather vocal about Slovakia getting the EU energy commissioner's post.
KDH MP Julius Brocka said that energy went to those who didn't behave like 'a bull in a china shop', referring to Fico. He added that it should be a lesson for the country and its Government.
Premier Fico said that it's a significant position, and Slovakia is thus going to gain access to a great deal of information, as Sefcovic will manage relations between the EU Council, Parliament (EP) and the European Commission.
Fico also said he is satisfied that, as a result of the Treaty of Lisbon being ratified, the long-term EU trauma in connection with institutional issues was solved. "It's a significant international document," said Fico.
The list of new Commissioners and their portfolios was presented on November 27 by the EU Commission's President Jose Manuel Barroso. The new Commission must first be approved by the EP after the hearings of Commissioners. EP doesn't approve individual Commissioners, but rather the Commission as a whole. The voting will take place on January 26.
The second Barroso Commission includes 13 Commissioners who have already held the posts, out of them seven have held them for the whole previous term. EU Commission is to have seven vice-chairmen, with Baroness Catherine Ashton, who is at the same time also the High EU Representative for Joint Foreign Affairs Policy, being the first vice-chair. An EU Commission's mandate lasts five years.
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