A group of MEPs have written a letter to European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso asking for the resignation of the Estonian commissioner, Siim Kallas, who is leading political negotiations for the Prime Minister post back home.
According to the EU Treaty, “members of the commission shall neither seek nor take instructions from any government or other institution, body, office or entity. They shall refrain from any action incompatible with their duties or the performance of their tasks.”
Kallas may be in breach of this clause and also of the EU commission’s internal Code of Conduct, which says commissioners have to resign or take a leave of absence if they get involved in election campaigns.
The Estonian commissioner on Monday (10 March) is expected to be appointed negotiator to form a new government - if he is successful he will become Prime Minister of Estonia until elections are held next year.