§ Mr. Simon ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the UK representative office has in selecting candidates for European Commission vacancies; what guidelines have been issued on this process; and if he will make a statement. [135891]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe European Commission is responsible for selecting candidates for vacancies within its services. Most such vacancies are filled through internal procedures by permanent Commission employees who have been recruited through open competition. For a small number of temporary appointments the Commission inform member states of vacancies and invite them to submit names of potential candidates. A Commission Selection Committee decides on such appointments.