Six areas of responsibility in EC could be considered for Czechs

The committee today issued no resolution on Fuele's nomination to the European Commission. However, the committee has fulfilled its legal duty by discussing the government's choice of the candidate for Czech EU commissioner.

According to Fuele, the areas of responsibility the Czech representatives could aspire for are energy, EU enlargement, regional development, transport, the environment and science and research.

He said he personally would prefer energy or EU enlargement.

"I am bold enough to be ready to take responsibility for any of the above-mentioned areas," Fuele said.

Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer said the Czech Republic would be reasonable in its aspirations. Competition is big and it will not be easy, Fischer said.

However, the European Union leaders have indicated that the Czech Republic should not be punished for the late ratification of the EU reform Lisbon treaty, he said.

The decision not to take any position on Fuele's nomination was made by the committee leadership.

"I view this as a clever decision which did not create any obstacles for the nomination process," committee chairwoman Katerina Jacques (Green Party, SZ) told journalists.

The agreement reached by the committee leadership was a compromise by which the committee just "made a certain symbolic statement," she said.

Some committee members had objections to Fuele's past. Fuele was a member of the Czechoslovak Communist Party (KSC) and he studied at the Soviet MGIMO university.

Committee member Petr Bratsky (Civic Democrats, ODS) said he considered most important Fuele's answer to the question of whether he was aware of any facts from his the past that could be abused against him personally or the Czech Republic.

Fuele's answer was "no."

According to Bratsky, there are various reports connected with Fuele's studies in the former Soviet Union.

"Some events that allegedly occurred during Fuele's diplomatic mission in Lithuania (1998-2001) have not been completely clarified but Mr Fuele says that everything is in order and I believe him at the moment," Bratsky told CTK.

Fischer told the iDnes server that Fuele had passed the highest level of security clearance and not only domestic but also for NATO.

"We know that he does not pose any security risk," Fischer said.

In his speech at the committee meeting Fuele supported the creation of European military capabilities and said that the EU should play a leading role in the implementation of the global treaty on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

He supported entry of the Balkan countries to NATO and EU and conditionally supported the admission of Turkey to the European Union.

"I think that only countries that meet the requirements set by the EU belong in it," Fuele said.

Turkey is not prepared for EU membership at present, he said.

Two largest Czech political parties - the ODS and the Social Democrats (CSSD) agreed on Fuele's candidacy for Czech representative in the new European Commission on Tuesday, after weeks of disputes.

Following today's discussion of Fuele's nomination by the committee his candidacy should be definitively approved by the government.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz