The European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee has approved Olivér Várhelyi as Hungary’s Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement.
The approval came after parliamentary group coordinators were satisfied with Várhelyi’s responses to additional written questions submitted following a hearing last week.
Commenting on his approval by the committee, Várhelyi tweeted: “What an honor to become part of team Ursula von der Leyen! For stronger Europe together!”
Zoltán Kovács, State Secretary for International Communication and Relations, revealed yesterday that Várhelyi is expected to take office on December 1.
“The government welcomes that the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee has supported Várhelyi’s appointment as European commissioner,” the Government Information Center said in a statement.
EP spokesman Jaume Duch said on Twitter that the foreign affairs committee had backed Várhelyi’s candidacy with a two-thirds majority as required for his approval as commissioner.
The EP’s Conference of Committee Chairs is expected to review the evaluations and recommendations given for the commissioner candidates and bring a formal end to the hearings on Thursday.
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