European Parliament approves Oettinger’s appointment

The German will be in charge of the budget and human resources portfolio.

MEPs on Thursday gave their blessing to Günther Oettinger becoming European commissioner for budget and human resources, a spokesman for the assembly said.

Martin Schulz, the departing president of the Parliament, will pass on to Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, a letter from several committee chairs saying Oettinger has “the necessary professional experience” for the job.

The Parliament’s decision was anticipated, as the former digital commissioner emerged unscathed from an exchange of views with MEPs on Monday.

Juncker picked Oettinger to succeed Kristalina Georgieva after she left for the World Bank in October, in part so the German might push Berlin for potentially greater financial support for the EU after Brexit.

But the German commissioner was caught in a political firestorm after describing Chinese diplomats as Schlitzaugen (“slant eyes”) and failing to disclose a trip on a private jet belonging to a powerful German lobbyist.

The letter, a copy of which was obtained by POLITICO, was signed by the chairs of the budget, budgetary control and legal affairs committees.

Though it praised Oettinger’s experience and skills, the letter also said that some members of the legal affairs committee were concerned about his “lack of strategic vision as regards gender mainstreaming.”