There will be a new member in our real government

Croatia is on her way into the EU, despite the obvious problems some of the existing member states in Eastern Europe and the Balkans are having to deal with. Naturally, one of that country's representatives will be a member of our real government, to wit the Commission. Croatia will be given the Consumer Protection portfolio and discussions are going on as to who in particular should hold it.

The country's nominee is Neven Mimica, currently Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration and a reputedly tough negotiator (though what exactly he has managed to negotiate for his country beyond accession to a wobbly enterprise is unclear). However, he made a poor impression on the MEPs who questioned him for three hours yesterday.

He pledged to focus on enforcing current legislation, seeking earlier and deeper involvement of stakeholders in the legislative process, and consolidating the legal framework of European consumer policy.

The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), the largest political group in Parliament, labelled his answers “too vague”, demanding a follow up.

“Neven Mimica has proven to be a serious person but he must catch up with the [Parliament’s] claim for the enforcement of concrete EU laws. Before being confirmed as a European Commissioner he must respond more concretely to MEPs’ questions,” said German MEP Andreas Schwab, EPP member of the Parliament's internal market and consumer protection committee.

Mr Mimica, on the other hand, thought it all went rather well.