Cloud of doubt hanging over Sylvie Goulard

“There is a cloud of doubt hanging over Commissioner-designate Sylvie Goulard. With an ongoing investigation into her financial dispositions by the EU anti-fraud office OLAF and the French judiciary, it would not be timely to give a final stamp of approval for her as Commissioner for Internal Market today. The EPP Group will demand that more questions are answered, and a possible second hearing, to clear up the outstanding issues and to make up our minds”, said Christian Ehler MEP, EPP Group Spokesman on Industry, Research and Energy in the European Parliament.

“Sylvie Goulard is supposed to take over an unprecedented, complex structure of 3 Directorates-General, each of a very different nature, but crucial for the EU economy, with ongoing legal allegations. It is thus hard to imagine how she is going to manage such complexity and to which extent this will burden her in the important issues she will manage”, said Christian Ehler.

Andreas Schwab MEP, EPP Group Spokesman on the Internal Market, said: "In the hearing, it became clear that several Members still have doubts about Sylvie Goulard, despite her being cleared by the Legal Affairs Committee. We need a Commissioner who has the ability to put the Single Market back at the top of the political agenda. This is why we need a strong Commissioner for this important portfolio, whose aptitude is beyond any doubt. Sylive Goulard‘s commitment to an open Single Market without barriers is very positive in this regard. However, as some questions remained open during the hearing and need further discussion, the EPP Group wants to postpone the Parliament‘s decision on the Commissioner-designate for the time being."