Olli Rehn goes before European Parliament today

Commission candidate needs to give satisfactory answer to 30 tough questions

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The Finnish European Commission candidate Olli Rehn is appearing before the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs.
      In a three-hour hearing, Rehn, who has been nominated as the new Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, is expected to answer about 30 questions drawn up by MEPs during the Christmas break.
      “There always has to be some tension if one is to be motivated enough to be carefully prepared”, Rehn said on Sunday evening.
      All would-be commissioners, with the exception of Commission President José Manuel Barroso, face a similar ordeal.
     
“The hearings measure a person’s true skills. It is not possible to resort to the help of experts, as is the case with written questions”, says Finnish MEP Carl Haglund (Swedish People’s Party) of the European Liberal group. Haglund is a substitute member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs.
      The questions are likely to focus on how to deal with the aftermath of the financial and economic crisis.
      “Employment and economic growth will be the most important theme”, Rehn predicted on Sunday.
     
The deeply indebted member states will have to give up their policies of economic stimulus before long. At that point, the EU countries will face tax hikes and spending cuts.
      Sirpa Pietikäinen (Nat. Coalition Party), a substitute member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, says that MEPs take the hearings seriously.
     
Finnish Euro-parliamentarians were not worried on Rehn’s behalf.
      “Rehn has a good reputation. He is known as a busy Finn”, Pietikäinen said, praising his concrete answers to the written questions.
      Haglund says that Rehn, who belongs to the same political group as he does, has the stamina to study new things, and does not pretend to be more knowledgeable than he really is.
      The committee will evaluate Rehn’s suitability for the post on Monday evening.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Katainen briefed Rehn on ways of euro group (3.12.2009)
  Commissioner-designate Rehn studying up on economics (30.11.2009)
  Rehn gets Economic & Monetary Affairs Commissioner post (27.11.2009)

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