#Brexit: MEPs react to EU Commissioner for Security role proposed for last British Commissioner, Sir Julian King

The decision by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to name Sir Julian King as EU Commissioner for the Security Union has been welcomed, by different parties within the European Parliament. Though some concerns have arisen about whether the post of Commissioner for Security is appropriate for a British Commissioner when the UK has an opt out of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and can choose to opt out of Justice and Home Affairs rules.

Conservative Home Affairs spokesman Timothy Kirkhope MEP said the appointment reflected the UK's continuing leadership role in security issues. Kirkhope said: "We face a global terrorist threat and this announcement sends a strong signal that the security relationship between Britain and the EU will remain of key importance post-Brexit."

"Sir Julian's extensive diplomatic experience, including spells working with NATO, the UN Security Council and as Chairman of the EU's Political and Security Committee, make him perfectly suited to fulfil this role."

Kirkhope is one of the leading MEPs of the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties committee and piloted the landmark Passenger Name Record directive through the European Parliament.

Guy Verhofstadt MEP, leader of the Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) group in the European Parliament, welcomed the nomination of a commissioner tasked to deal with security: "The fact that Mr Juncker has chosen to nominate a commissioner to coordinate anti-terrorism policies at a European level is definitely a good thing. I am also pleased to see that the commissioner's task is thought through at an operational level and that a clear role has been carved out for him.

However, he wondered if a UK-commissioner for the Security Union is the right choice. Verhofstadt is concerned that the UK has a long-standing opt-out from Justice and Home Affairs measures, an area that is crucial for building a European anti-terrorism capacity. He said, it would be odd to give such an important portfolio to someone who has no incentive to further the European interest in general, or more specifically, to enhance the EU's security capabilities.

S&D (Social and Democratic) Group President Gianni Pittella MEP, said: “Security is a vital topic for the EU and it is good that we will now have someone working specifically on coordinating the European Agenda on Security. This is something European citizens have called for and something we fully support.  It is important that this work is done in support of Home Affairs Commissioner Avramopoulos, and under the direction of first Vice-President Timmermans. The approach of leading a task force of experts from existing departments and providing advice is the correct one.”

Background

Sir Julian is currently Britain's ambassador to France. If confirmed in the EU post, he will replace Lord Hill, the former Financial Services Commissioner, who resigned after the Brexit vote.

Share this article: