The European Parliament has voted in favour of the new European Commission including Ireland’s Michael McGrath.
MEPs gave their approval this lunchtime following scrutiny of the 26 commissioners under Ursula von der Leyen’s second term as president.
Michael McGrath has been appointed European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law. President von der Leyen has also announced that she would be adding “consumer protection” to Michael McGrath’s job title.
Speaking in parliament this morning in Strasbourg, President von der Leyen, said she has asked Michael McGrath to be the champion for EU values.
“It has taken decades to earn the freedoms we hold today, but we all know it can take a moment to lose them. And this is why we must always be vigilant”, she warned.
“I have tasked Michael McGrath to be a steadfast guardian of our values and our principles.”
Following a three-hour hearing in the European Parliament earlier this month, senior MEPs had already given Michael McGrath the thumbs up.
“The Commissioner-designate gave a convincing impression of his aptitude to be a member of the
College of Commissioners and to carry out the specific tasks assigned to him”, they wrote in a letter seen by NewsIreland.eu
Although there were some reservations that McGrath is not a lawyer.
“Michael McGrath is qualified to be member of the College [of European commissioners] and is qualified to carry out the particular duties he has been assigned in the field of European Electoral Law and European Political Parties and Foundations even though some concerns were expressed about his lack of a background in law.”
As European Commissioner, Michael McGrath is supposed to act on the EU’s behalf rather than favour Ireland.
As part of his pitch for the job, he announced plans for a Digital Fairness Act which he said would reassure consumers and improve protection of children online.
The approval of the European Commission is the final step which had to be completed after last summer’s European elections. The team of commissioners now have a mandate until 2029.
von der Leyen has made a raft of promises for her second term including a stronger focus on security, more environmental measures, more support for farmers and a resolve to uphold EU values at home and around the world.
In parliament this morning, she said Michael McGrath would play a key role in that task.
“He will make sure that the rule of law and justice for all remains at the heart of the European project, and he will strengthen, equal application of all rule of law, instruments of values, our foundation and our common bond.
And they will always be our future.”