Court of Auditors: MEPs endorse Juhan Parts as member for Estonia

The appointment of former Estonian Prime Minister Juhan Parts as a member of the European Court of Auditors i was endorsed by the European Parliament on Wednesday. Mr Parts, who has a degree in Law from the University of Tartu, was Auditor General of Estonia from 1998 to 2002 and Prime Minister from 2003-2005. He has also been Minister of Economy and Communications.

MEPs approved the nomination by 488 votes to 133 with 88 abstentions. A hearing with the candidate took place in Parliament’s Budgetary Control Committee on 5 December.

Background

The Court of Auditors has 28 members, one from each EU i member state. They are appointed for a renewable term of six years. The Council, after consulting the European Parliament, decides on the candidate presented by each country.

To prepare for a hearing in Parliament, candidates are asked to answer a questionnaire prepared by the Budgetary Control Committee. At the hearing, candidates may make a five-minute opening statement, followed by a question and answer session with committee members. The committee votes on each candidate in a secret ballot. If approved in committee, the nomination is then put to a vote by Parliament as a whole.

Procedure: Appointment to Court of Auditors

REF. : 20161208IPR55158