KEEP TRACK OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE EU INSTITUTIONS WITH OUR MOVERS AND SHAKERS COLUMN

Mia Bartoloni is the editor of Dods People EU and the European Union and Public Affairs Directory

For the first time in Parliament’s history, a Maltese member will hold the office of vice-president. Following the departure of Ireland’s Mairead McGuinness to the Commission, the EPP’s Roberta Metsola was unanimously elected first vice-president after being the only candidate put forward for the role. A former lawyer specialising in European law and politics, Metsola became a member of the EPP group and the Parliament in 2013. She is expected to inherit her predecessor’s responsibilities, including a seat on the Conciliation Committee that is convened to resolve any disagreements between the Council and Parliament. Romanian MEP Clotilde Armand bids farewell to the Parliament as she heads back to Romania and takes up the role of Bucharest District 1 Mayor. A former member of the Renew Europe group, Armand most recently sat as a member on the Budgets Committee (BUDG) and Serbia Delegation (D-RS) and as a substitute on the Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN) and the Albania Delegation (D-AL). Armand has been vocal against the Mobility Package, which she argued went against the EU’s free movement rules and hindered the EU’s efforts to reduce emissions.

Vlad Gheorghe, a lawyer specialising in European funds and public procurement, has taken Armand’s seat and will continue her work in the Budgets Committee and Serbia Delegation. Gheorghe has placed the eradication of corruption high on his agenda and has said that he will support the creation of an EU anti-corruption regulation to standardise definitions of corruption and integrity criteria for access to public office.

In committee and delegation news, Polish MEP Sylwia Spurek (Greens/EFA) has been elected second vice-chair of the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee (FEMM) by acclamation and will support chair Evelyn Regner (S&D, AT) in her work. Spurek is a leading rights campaigner who has recently been vocal in condemning the Polish courts’ decision which effectively bans abortion in the country.

Carmen Avram (S&D, RO) has been elected vice-chair of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly (D-EPA). A former television producer and engineer, Avram also sits as a member on the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee (AGRI) and the Israel Delegation (D-IL).

Finally, in national news, Estonian interior Minister Mart Helme has announced his resignation following comments he made in relation to the US elections. Helme will return to the Riigikogu as a member of Parliament but will no longer be a minister. His replacement is yet to be announced.