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| UK will not nominate EU commissioner before general election | UK will not nominate EU commissioner before general election |
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| Commission needs officials of all 28 member states for it to be legally formed on 1 December | Commission needs officials of all 28 member states for it to be legally formed on 1 December |
| The incoming president of the European commission, Ursula von der Leyen, faces a battle to set up her new EU executive team by 1 December after Boris Johnson said he would not nominate a UK candidate before the general election. | The incoming president of the European commission, Ursula von der Leyen, faces a battle to set up her new EU executive team by 1 December after Boris Johnson said he would not nominate a UK candidate before the general election. |
| For the commission to be legally constituted, it needs all 28 member states to have a commissioner. The general election in the UK takes place on 12 December. | For the commission to be legally constituted, it needs all 28 member states to have a commissioner. The general election in the UK takes place on 12 December. |
| The UK permanent representative to the EU, Tim Barrow, wrote to Von der Leyen on Wednesday evening to inform her the British government would not nominate a UK candidate for the commission before the election because of purdah rules. | |
| “We have written to the EU to confirm that pre-election guidance states the UK should not normally make nominations for international appointments during this period,” a UK official said. | “We have written to the EU to confirm that pre-election guidance states the UK should not normally make nominations for international appointments during this period,” a UK official said. |
| The formation of the new commission headed by the former German defence minister has already been delayed by a month owing to the European parliament’s rejection of nominees from three member states. | |
| On Thursday, MEPs were questioning new nominees – from France, Hungary and Romania – in the hope those positions can be swiftly confirmed. | On Thursday, MEPs were questioning new nominees – from France, Hungary and Romania – in the hope those positions can be swiftly confirmed. |
| The initial Hungarian and Romanian candidates had been rejected by MEPs because of perceived conflicts of interest. The first French nominee, Sylvie Goulard, was voted down in part over allegations that as an MEP she had used an assistant to carry out domestic political work. | |
| The EU member states could potentially agree to change the law to allow the commission to be constituted without a UK candidate by 1 December, if the three other outstanding positions are confirmed in time. | The EU member states could potentially agree to change the law to allow the commission to be constituted without a UK candidate by 1 December, if the three other outstanding positions are confirmed in time. |
| A commission spokeswoman said it was noted in the letter from the UK government that Downing Street had no intention to delay the establishment of the new commission and was ready to assist if possible. | A commission spokeswoman said it was noted in the letter from the UK government that Downing Street had no intention to delay the establishment of the new commission and was ready to assist if possible. |
| “The UK recognises its obligations as a member state and states clearly that it does not wish to stop the EU from proceeding with the formation of a new commission. The aim of President-elect Von der Leyen remains to … take office on 1 December,” she said. | |
| Hungary’s nominee to the commission, Olivér Várhelyi, said during his hearing on Wednesday that he would not bow to influence from Viktor Orbán, the country’s far-right prime minister. | Hungary’s nominee to the commission, Olivér Várhelyi, said during his hearing on Wednesday that he would not bow to influence from Viktor Orbán, the country’s far-right prime minister. |
| Várhelyi, who is the Hungarian ambassador to the EU, said he would act independently if approved as commissioner for neighbourhood and enlargement. | |
| “As commissioner, from the day I am elected I would be acting in a completely independent way. I will take no instruction from any government or any institution … I will be pursuing the EU line and only the EU line,” he said. | “As commissioner, from the day I am elected I would be acting in a completely independent way. I will take no instruction from any government or any institution … I will be pursuing the EU line and only the EU line,” he said. |
| France’s commission candidate, Thierry Breton, is expected to have a tougher battle to be accepted when he meets MEPs on Thursday afternoon. The former chief executive of the software company Atos narrowly passed an examination of his financial declarations by the European parliament’s legal affairs committee on Tuesday. | |
| They approved his financial declarations by 12 votes to 11, but Breton faces intense questioning from MEPs over any potential conflict of interest between his links to tech companies and him being the next single market and industry commissioner. | They approved his financial declarations by 12 votes to 11, but Breton faces intense questioning from MEPs over any potential conflict of interest between his links to tech companies and him being the next single market and industry commissioner. |