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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Romanian EU commissioner accepted | Romanian EU commissioner accepted |
| (4 days later) | |
| The European Commission has welcomed Romania's second nominee to become a commissioner, after its first candidate was forced to withdraw. | The European Commission has welcomed Romania's second nominee to become a commissioner, after its first candidate was forced to withdraw. |
| Leonard Orban, Romania's deputy EU integration minister, has been lined up as commissioner for multilingualism. | Leonard Orban, Romania's deputy EU integration minister, has been lined up as commissioner for multilingualism. |
| He was put forward after Varujan Vosganian withdrew amid allegations of corruption and secret police links. | He was put forward after Varujan Vosganian withdrew amid allegations of corruption and secret police links. |
| Commission President Jose Manual Barroso said Mr Orban would be "a great member of my Commission". | Commission President Jose Manual Barroso said Mr Orban would be "a great member of my Commission". |
| "Mr Orban was one of the main people responsible for Romania's EU accession," Mr Barroso said. | "Mr Orban was one of the main people responsible for Romania's EU accession," Mr Barroso said. |
| Like all commissioners, Mr Orban will have to be grilled by the European Parliament before he can take up his post. | Like all commissioners, Mr Orban will have to be grilled by the European Parliament before he can take up his post. |
| Carve up | Carve up |
| The arrival of the Romanian commissioner, and a commissioner from Bulgaria, will leave the commission with 27 members, forcing Mr Barroso to carve up some of the existing portfolios. | The arrival of the Romanian commissioner, and a commissioner from Bulgaria, will leave the commission with 27 members, forcing Mr Barroso to carve up some of the existing portfolios. |
| Mr Barroso approved Bulgarian Europe Minister Meglena Kuneva on Friday, giving her the role of consumer protection commissioner. | Mr Barroso approved Bulgarian Europe Minister Meglena Kuneva on Friday, giving her the role of consumer protection commissioner. |
| Reports had suggested that Romania's candidate would be given responsibility for the EU's customs union. | Reports had suggested that Romania's candidate would be given responsibility for the EU's customs union. |
| Mr Orban, 45, has taken part in Romania's negotiations with the European Union since 2001, and signed the accession treaty in April 2005. | Mr Orban, 45, has taken part in Romania's negotiations with the European Union since 2001, and signed the accession treaty in April 2005. |
| First candidate | First candidate |
| Romania's first choice for the job, Mr Vosganian, met Mr Barroso in Brussels on Thursday but was not immediately approved. | Romania's first choice for the job, Mr Vosganian, met Mr Barroso in Brussels on Thursday but was not immediately approved. |
| The Socialist group in the European Parliament said they wanted to further explore Mr Vosganian's "acceptance of European standards and European values". | The Socialist group in the European Parliament said they wanted to further explore Mr Vosganian's "acceptance of European standards and European values". |
| Mr Vosganian said the allegations against him were baseless, but withdrew his candidacy to avoid damaging Romania's image. | Mr Vosganian said the allegations against him were baseless, but withdrew his candidacy to avoid damaging Romania's image. |