Juncker Approves Slovenia’s Violeta Bulc as EC Member

European Commission President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker has approved the nomination of Slovenia's vice premier Violeta Bulc for member of the EU's executive body.

Juncker on Tuesday sent an update to the list of commissioners-designate to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in his capacity as President of the Council of the European Union, thereby signalling his agreement on the new Slovenian candidate, the Commission said in a press release.

The approval followed an interview Juncker held with Bulc.

In accordance with EU rules the Council must now agree to the updated list, after which Juncker intends to announce the portfolio he intends to attribute to Violeta Bulc. Then the respective committees of the European parliament will hold a hearing of Bulc and in a next step, the European Parliament has to give its consent to the entire list of commissioners.

Slovenia on Friday nominated Bulc for EU Commissioner following the rejection of former prime minister Alenka Bratusek by the European Parliament.