THE PROSPECTS of José Manuel Barroso’s new European Commission emerging unscarred from confirmation hearings in the European Parliament dimmed yesterday after Socialist MEPs called for the withdrawal from the team of Bulgaria’s foreign minister, Rumiana Jeleva.
Four days into a seven-day series of hearings, controversy over the financial declarations made by Ms Jeleva has dominated the proceedings.
She has been selected by Mr Barroso for the humanitarian aid portfolio, a post in which she would be in charge of the EU’s response to disasters such as the Haiti earthquake.
At her confirmation hearing last Tuesday, her responses to questions from MEPs were widely held to be weak and vague.
Amid growing speculation that Ms Jeleva could be forced from the new EU executive over accusations that she was less than frank in declarations of her business interests, the Socialists intensified pressure on Mr Barroso and the Bulgarian government by calling for her head.
Socialist group leader Martin Schulz, a German MEP, said that apart from the “serious allegations” of financial impropriety against Ms Jeleva, he had also told Mr Barroso that she was not good enough for the job.
“It is now for him to reflect on this matter and draw the necessary conclusions,” Mr Schulz said.
Given Green and Liberal scepticism about her claims not to own a consultancy company she said she has sold, the Socialist intervention points to growing scepticism about her candidature. Ms Jeleva, however, continues to enjoy the support of the dominant group in the parliament, the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), of which she is a vice-president.
The EPP maintains that the claims against her are a minor matter and that she is the victim of a witch-hunt. The party has also accused Slovakia’s commissioner designate, a Socialist nominee, of racism over remarks he made five years ago about his country’s Roma people.
The mounting controversy has the potential to disrupt the formal appointment of Mr Barroso’s new team, already delayed for three months, as MEPs can block the ratification of the entire executive if they deem any single candidate unacceptable.
Although several sources with knowledge of the situation said discussions on alternative plans had begun in earnest behind the scenes, the commission declined to comment yesterday. “The process is continuing and we are awaiting an assessment from the parliament,” a spokesman said.
While informed sources in Brussels said it was “not impossible” that Ms Jeleva would survive, they conceded there was growing doubt about her prospects.
“There are a number of options now,” said a commission source.
“She could resign, the government could pull her or it could become clear that the parliament will not accept her. At the moment we have one political group saying they can’t accept her. It will depend on whether the EPP is prepared to sacrifice her.”
A spokeswoman for Sofia’s mission to the EU declined yesterday to comment on reports in the Bulgarian press that the government was discussing whether it should withdraw Ms Jeleva.
Mr Schulz attacked claims by Bulgarian prime minister Boiko Borisov that left-wing MEPs who had questioned Ms Jeleva’s credentials were trouble-makers.
“The former bodyguard of the former Communist dictator of Bulgaria has no right to attack us in such a way,” Mr Schulz said.
“Ms Jeleva is an element of Borisov’s strategy to put his style of attacking everybody who disagrees with him as a communist or whatever.
“I ask Mr Barroso to reject clearly such a style. Ms Jeleva and her incompetence are what represent the Borisov government.”