MEPs accept Liikanen as Enterprise Commissioner
The Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy has delivered a glowing report on Commissioner-designate Erkki Liikanen to the President of the European Parliament, Nicole Fontaine. The Parliament is due to vote on the new Commission as a body on 15 September, following which, assuming a positive vote, the new Commissioners would take up office. In a letter delivered on 1 September, Chairman of the Committee Carlos Westendorp, approved Mr Liikanen as Commissioner for Enterprise and the Information Society, following his confirmation hearing on the previous day. Approval was also expressed by the other delegations who attended the hearing: the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy, Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism, and the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport. Mr Liikanen's written answers to questions submitted by MEPs prior to the hearing were considered 'appropriate and compared with those given by other members-designate of the Commission as detailed and rich in content'. Regarding his political and professional experience and personal independence, the Committee expressed satisfaction, noting his commitment to cooperate fully with the Committee and to participate regularly in its meetings. Although some reservations were expressed about his role as a member of the former Commission, most members 'expressed their general approval of Mr Liikanen's qualifications and his working programme,' adding that they were 'looking forward to fully cooperating with him. The atmosphere of the hearing was described as 'constructive', generating 'positive results'. Finally the Committee promised to closely monitor Mr Liikanen's future political and administrative activities. Despite the request of members of the EPP group, an indicative vote was not taken.