Court of Auditors: eight candidate members approved by Parliament

All eight candidate members of the European Court of Auditors were approved by MEPs on Tuesday.

Three re-nominated current members were approved with the following voting figures:

• Mr Vítor Manuel da Silva Caldeira (PT) - approved with 622 votes in favour, 36 against, and 32 abstentions,

• Mr Karel Pinxten (BE) - approved with 599 votes in favour, 38 against, and 56 abstentions, and

• Mr Hans Gustaf Wessberg (SE) - approved with 606 votes in favour, 39 against, and 55 abstentions.

Five newly-proposed members were approved with the following voting figures:

• Mr Henrik Otbo (DK) - approved by with 596 votes in favour, 31 against, and 53 abstentions,

• Mr Juan-Francisco Corona Ramón (ES) - approved with 363 votes in favour, 309 against, and 27 abstentions,

• Mr Ville Itälä (FI) - approved with 625 votes in favour, 41 against, and 29 abstentions,

• Mr Pietro Russo (IT) - approved with 608 votes in favour, 43 against, and 34 abstentions, and

• Mr Kevin Cardiff (IE) - approved with 521 votes in favour, 128 against, and 34 abstentions. In the case of Mr Cardiff, the plenary vote rejected a Budgetary Control Committee recommendation to reject the nomination.

Although it is the Council of Ministers that formally decides on the appointments, co-operating with the European Parliament, and particularly its Budgetary Control Committee, is crucial for members of the Court of Auditors. Under the EU Treaty, the Council must consult Parliament on appointments to the Court.