Groups nominate committee Chairs
Last update at 1730:
The leaders of the European Parliament’s political Groups and national delegations have been meeting in Brussels in the week beginning 6 July to negotiate who will take Chairs of the Parliament’s committees.
As expected, the EPP are likely to keep foreign affairs – probably for Italian Mario Mauro, who stood aside from the race for the presidency. His reward for giving Jerzy Buzek a clear run seems to be the chairmanship of one of the Parliament’s most prestigious committees. The centre-right is also likely to take the Chairs of the industry, legal affairs, budgets, culture and regional development committees.
1230 update: the EPP will also take charge of the constitutional affairs and fisheries committees, and the security and defence sub-committee.
The Socialists & Democrats should take employment and social affairs, transport, agriculture, civil liberties and environment.
1230 update: the Socialists & Democrats will not have the constitutional affairs committee, but add international trade to the list above.
1630 update: the international trade committee chairmanship is likely to be taken by a Portuguese member, Vital Moreira, who headed the Socialist Party’s list.
1730 update: the employment and social affairs committee chairmanship will be taken by French MEP Pervenche Beres, currently the Chair of the economic affairs committee.
For more on the likely contenders, and the latest on the Liberals’, Greens’, Conservatives’ and EFD choices, click here.
With negotiations ongoing, nothing will be confirmed, however, until the committees hold their constituent meetings on 16 July in Strasbourg and 20 July in Brussels.