Irelands government on Friday nominated Mairead McGuinness and Andrew McDowell as candidates to be the countrys next European commissioner, following Phil Hogans resignation as EU trade chief last week.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen must now decide which candidate to accept and whether they will retain the trade portfolio. The alternative is for her to conduct a broader reshuffle that could mean an existing commissioner taking trade and Ireland being allocated a less prestigious area of responsibility.
European Parliament First Vice President McGuinness is a member of Irelands Fine Gael, part of the European Peoples Party. An MEP since 2004, McGuinness primary area of expertise is agriculture. Picking her would bring the College of Commissioners a step closer to gender parity.
The other candidate, McDowell, until recently served as a vice president at the European Investment Bank. He was previously chief economic adviser to Irelands prime minister and director of policy at Fine Gael. He is perceived by some as a low-profile pick intended to pave the way for McGuinness to be selected.
Von der Leyen had Read More – Source
Irelands government on Friday nominated Mairead McGuinness and Andrew McDowell as candidates to be the countrys next European commissioner, following Phil Hogans resignation as EU trade chief last week.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen must now decide which candidate to accept and whether they will retain the trade portfolio. The alternative is for her to conduct a broader reshuffle that could mean an existing commissioner taking trade and Ireland being allocated a less prestigious area of responsibility.
European Parliament First Vice President McGuinness is a member of Irelands Fine Gael, part of the European Peoples Party. An MEP since 2004, McGuinness primary area of expertise is agriculture. Picking her would bring the College of Commissioners a step closer to gender parity.
The other candidate, McDowell, until recently served as a vice president at the European Investment Bank. He was previously chief economic adviser to Irelands prime minister and director of policy at Fine Gael. He is perceived by some as a low-profile pick intended to pave the way for McGuinness to be selected.
Von der Leyen had Read More – Source
