European Parliament Vice-President Mairead McGuinness will succeed former EU Commissioner Phil Hogan, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Tuesday.
Hogan resigned at the end of August over the scandal known as Golfgate, in which he was accused of breaking Ireland’s rules on protection from coronavirus by travelling without good reason and attending a dinner at a golf club with around 80 guests present.
Ireland had put both McGuinness and Andrew McDowell, vice-president of the European Investment Bank, forward as possible candidates to succeed Hogan.
At the same time, trade will leave the Irish portfolio, to be entrusted to the Latvian Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis.
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On Monday, von der Leyen spoke with the two candidates put forward by Ireland to replace the resigning commissioner.
“Both candidates showed great commitment to the European Union and to the job of Commissioner,” von der Leyen said in a statement, calling them "excellent candidates.”
“They also both clearly have significant experience of EU matters, of course from different perspectives,” she said.
McGuinness “will be in charge of financial services, financial stability and the Capital Markets Union,” von der Leyen explained.
“I would like to express my thanks to Mr McDowell for his application and wish him well in his future endeavours,” she concluded.
The Brussels Times
