Romania defers EU commissioner nomination until being given satisfactory portfolio
<p>On the day before the deadline for sending the EU commissioner nominations, Romanian prime minister <strong>Marcel Ciolacu</strong> announced that the country's candidate proposal would be made only after the conclusion of negotiations regarding the distribution of portfolios among the EU members.</p>

<p>Touching on the gender balance request expressed by EC president Ursula von der Leyen, PM Ciolacu said the nomination may be a woman – but this depends on the candidates available for the specific portfolio.</p>

<p>"We will have a negotiation process. If, for a particular portfolio, the most suitable person is a woman, then we will nominate a woman. If a man is more suitable for a particular portfolio, we will nominate a man. The field that we will represent, through the Romanian commissioner in the European Commission, is very important," said PM Ciolacu, quoted by <a href="https://cursdeguvernare.ro/prmeier-da-inapoi-propunere-comisar-european.html?mc_cid=508348344a&amp;mc_eid=cd1f92f96c" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Cursdeguvernare.ro</a>.</p>

<p>Asked when he will make the nomination, Ciolacu answered: "When we will be satisfied with the portfolio."</p>

<p>Romania competes for an economic portfolio in the next European Executive, but the competition is high as Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, and the Czech Republic expressed similar preferences.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One week earlier, prime minister Marcel Ciolacu declared he would send Ursula von der Leyen one name - Victor Negrescu.</p>

<p><em>iulian@romania-insider.com</em></p>

<p><em>(Photo source: Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea)</em></p>