Davies to grill EU nominees

OLDHAM Euro-MP Chris Davies is to play a leading role in quizzing some of the people seeking Europe’s top jobs.

The prime ministers of all 27 countries in the European Union have each nominated one person to become a European Commissioner for the next five years.

But their positions have first to be approved by the European Parliament.

Each prospective Commissioner will face a three-hour grilling before Euro-MPs, who will then decide whether to support them or not.

The process will take three days, starting on Wednesday.

Liberal Democrat Mr Davies leads his party in Europe on the Environment and Public Health Committee, and is also a member of the Fisheries Committee.

He said: “The European Commissioners have to give meaning to the decisions taken by the governments of Europe in all the areas where we have agreed that we need to work together.

“I want to know whether they are up to their jobs. Ministers in Britain don’t have to pass any scrutiny of this kind.”

He said that he wanted to hear from the people nominated to work on climate change, environment and fisheries policies what they would do to address problems and develop policies to bring about improvements.

He added: “The questions asked will range from huge issues about the future of the planet to smaller ones like ensuring that we still have fish to put into fish fingers.”