Budgetary Control Committee endorses Court of Auditors candidate Iliana Ivanova

Bulgaria's nomination of Iliana Ivaonova to join the European Court of Auditors was endorsed by Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee on Monday. Ms Ivanova is currently a Member of the European Parliament for the EPP group. Her candidature now goes to the full Parliament for a final vote on Wednesday 13 June.

The result of the vote was 17 in favour, 2 against and 5 abstentions.

The Committee had initially scheduled another vote, on the nomination of Romanian candidate Mr Mircea Vasile Popescu, but the Romanian authorities decided last week to withdraw it.

Procedure

Members of the Court of Auditors are appointed for six years. The Council, after consulting the European Parliament decides upon the proposals made by each Member State.

To prepare for a hearing in Parliament, a candidate is asked to answer a questionnaire prepared by the Budgetary Control Committee. At the hearing, they may make a five-minute opening statement, followed by a 25-minute questions and reply session with committee members. The Committee then votes on the nomination by secret ballot.

If approved in committee, the nomination is later put to a vote by Parliament as a whole.