EU Lawmakers To Set Vote Against ECB Appointee Mersch

BRUSSELS (MNI) – EU lawmakers plan to table a motion to reject the
appointment of Luxembourg’s central bank governor Yves Mersch for a
position on the European Central Bank’s Executive Board.

Even if the committee vote succeeds, which is not clear at this
stage, and is confirmed by the Parliament’s plenary, it will have no
direct impact on Mersch’s ability to take up the job, but would cast a
shadow on the appointment.

The move is the latest twist in the saga to fill the seat on the
six-member board which has been vacant since former council member
Jose Manuel Gonzalez Paramo stepped down at the end of May.

A date for Mersch’s hearing was only confirmed Thursday after
parliamentarians struck a deal with EU Council President Herman Van
Rompuy, who agreed to speak out on the issue of gender balance at the EU
leaders summit here next week.

The European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee
will table a motion to reject Mersch’s appointment, not on the basis of
his qualifications or character, but to draw attention to the lack of
senior women at the ECB and in the business world, a committee member
explained.

The Committee has been in a tussle with Eurozone finance ministers
since last year after they ignored a request to consider at least one
female candidate for the influential position.

–Brussels Newsroom, +324-952-28374; pkoh@mni-news.com
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