Zagreb - The parliamentary European Affairs Committee has endorsed Neven Mimica as Croatia's candidate for the European Commission in the 2014-19 period.
The committee yesterday held a session at which Mimica, a commissioner in the previous EC and the government's nominee for a commissioner in the new EC, was heard as part of a discussion on a government report on the nominee.
Addressing the committee, Mimica spoke of the EC's achievements in consumer protection, for which he was in charge, the need to strengthen the European Union's democratic legitimacy through cooperation with the national parliaments, and the political guidelines of new EC President Jean-Claude Juncker. Asked about the EU policy for which a commissioner from Croatia would be in charge, Mimica said the nominees could not choose their directorates, adding that transport, the maritime policy and fisheries, and the development policy were the most interesting areas for Croatia.
After the hearing, the European Affairs Committee affirmed its commitment to monitoring the government's activities in EU institutions and, acknowledging Mimica's experience as an EC member from Croatia, it supported his nomination for the EC in the 2014-19 period. (Hina)