Klaus-Heiner Lehne's European Court of Auditors nomination backed in committee
The nomination of MEP Klaus-Heiner Lehne (EPP, DE) as the German member of the European Court of Auditors was endorsed by Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee on Thursday. If Parliament confirms his nomination at its first plenary session in February, Mr Lehne will take up his new duties in the Luxembourg-based court after the Council seals the appointment.
Mr Lehne's nomination was approved by 17 votes to 4, with 2 abstentions in a secret ballot.
A lawyer by profession, he has been a member of the European Parliament since 1994, chairing the Committee on Legal Affairs in the current term. Prior to his parliamentary career, Mr Lehne worked inter alia in the German Bundestag and the Düsseldorf city council. He was nominated by the German authorities.
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 question and answer session with committee members.
If approved in committee, the nomination is later put to a vote by Parliament as a whole.
In the chair: Jens Geier (S& D, DE)