Vote on new Commission delayed until February

The replacement process

José Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission, wants to meet Kristalina Georgieva – Bulgaria's new commissioner-designate – “as soon as possible”, he said in a statement today. That meeting, however, will only be a first step in the process of replacing Rumiana Jeleva, who resigned this morning.

Georgieva will first need to find out whether she can resign from her current post as a vice-president of the World Bank with immediate effect. Once she has Barroso's backing, she will need some time to prepare for her hearing with the European Parliament, which would be scheduled by the committee assigned responsibility by the Parliament, most probably the development committee. Once the committee has reached its verdict on her performance, the Parliament will meet in plenary to take a vote on the entire Commission.

“It is up to the Parliament to set its agenda,” a Commission spokesperson said today. He said that he was unable to confirm any dates. He also declined to say whether Georgieva would be a candidate for Jeleva's portfolio, of international co-operation, humanitarian aid and crisis response, or whether Barroso might use the opportunity for a reshuffle.