EUROPEAN UNION
The head of the European Union’s Public Service, Secretary-General Martin Selmayr (pictured) could be forced to step down following the appointment of Ursula von der Leyen as the President of the European Commission’s Executive.
The two are Germans and the unwritten convention within the European Commission is that the President and Secretary-General should not be from the same member state.
Ms Von der Leyen, the German Minister for Defence, is due to replace Jean-Claude Junker in the northern autumn.
Her appointment, ratified by the European Parliament in Strasbourg, could signal the end of Mr Selmayr’s stint as head of the 30,000-strong EU Public Service.
The possibility of his departure has also sparked speculation among Members of the European Parliament, with UK Socialist Deputy, Richard Corbett pointing out that while there was no actual rule, “it’s longstanding practice not to have both of the same nationality”.
Another MEP who did not wish to be named said Mr Selmayr’s removal would allow Ms von der Leyen to assert her authority to the full.
One experienced EU commentator said there had been rumours that Mr Selmayr might want the EU representative job in London, “but I suspect that would be below his power threshold”.
Mr Selmayr has been a controversial figure since his appointment in March 2018, with some saying he was “parachuted” into the role by Mr Juncker.
MEPs, in a debate earlier this year, slammed the Commission for lack of transparency in the appointment procedure of Mr Selmayr, which was described as “opaque”.
Brussels, 10 July 2019
