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Brexit: Top UK diplomat nominated to be new EU commissioner Brexit: Top UK diplomat nominated to be new EU commissioner
(about 1 hour later)
Britain's ambassador to France has been nominated to be the UK's next and potentially last European Commissioner.Britain's ambassador to France has been nominated to be the UK's next and potentially last European Commissioner.
Sir Julian King has been put forward by David Cameron following last week's resignation of Lord Hill in the wake of the UK's vote to leave the EU.Sir Julian King has been put forward by David Cameron following last week's resignation of Lord Hill in the wake of the UK's vote to leave the EU.
Sir Julian, a career civil servant, will have to be approved by MEPs before taking up the role. Sir Julian, a career civil servant, will be interviewed by officials and MEPs before being offered the role.
Lord Hill was in charge of financial services but that job has now been given to Latvia's Valdis Dombrovskis.Lord Hill was in charge of financial services but that job has now been given to Latvia's Valdis Dombrovskis.
Sir Julian is to be interviewed by EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker on Monday to assess his suitability for the post. The BBC understands that the new British commissioner is likely to be given a "less sensitive" post, potentially covering the environment.
If he is approved, Sir Julian will become one of the 28 top officials at the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, one representing each member of the European Union. The diplomat would take up his post at a time when the UK's relations with the EU are at an all-time low following the decision to end its 43-year membership of the organisation, previously known as the European Community.
The UK remains a full member of the EU until it leaves, although it will not take part in all European Council meetings. Mr Cameron has said it is up to the next prime minister to decide when to trigger official exit talks - which, according to EU rules, should take two years. Parliamentary hearings
Sir Julian only took up his current post in Paris in February. During a thirty-year career in the diplomatic service, he held a number of senior positions in Brussels, including acting as a senior aide to a previous EU commissioner. Sir Julian is to be interviewed by EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker on Monday to assess his suitability for the post and will later face a "confirmation hearing" in front of the European Parliament.
According to the European Commission, new commissioners "shall be chosen on the grounds of their general competence and European commitment from persons whose independence is beyond doubt".
The approval of the European Council - made up of the 28 member states - is required before the appointment takes effect, while the Commission is also expected to "seriously consider" the opinion of the European Parliament.
If he is approved, Sir Julian will become one of the 28 top officials at the European Commission, the EU's executive arm. He would be expected to play an important role as a "conduit" between the UK and the other 27 member states during the talks over the UK's exit.
The UK remains a full member of the EU until it leaves, although it will not take part in all European Council meetings.
Mr Cameron has said it is up to the next prime minister, who will be elected in September, to decide when to trigger official exit talks - which, according to EU rules, should take two years although there remains controversy over the as yet untested Article 50 process.
Sir Julian only took up his current post in Paris in February. During a 30-year career in the diplomatic service, he held a number of senior positions in Brussels, including acting as a senior aide to a previous EU commissioner.
Previous UK commissioners have included high-profile political figures such as Lord Patten, Lord Kinnock and Lord Mandelson.