European Parliament to Vote on 2nd Barroso European Commission

The European Parliament is voting Tuesday on the confirmation of the new European Commission chaired by incumbent EC President Jose Manuel Barroso.

The vote, which is expected to take place in the early afternoon, is largely formal as the various EP Committees have already approved each of the Commissioner-Designates.

Bulgaria’s new EU Commissioner, Kristalina Georgieva, who will be in charge of humanitarian aid, was the last one to be approved last week as the country’s first EC-Designate, ex Foreign Minister Rumiana Jeleva withdrew after her failed EP hearing. This led to a two week delay in the confirmation of the second Barroso Commission as the vote was originally scheduled for January 26.

During its plenary session in Strasbourg, the EP is also going to debate an EU-US agreement on the exchange of banking information as an anti-terrorism measure. The Civil Rights Committee of the EP already recommended a rejection of the agreement which was negotiated with the US by the outgoing EC. The vote will be taking place on Thursday.