The members of the European Parliament rejected the candidacy of the Hungarian Laszlo Trocanyi for the European Union Commissioner for Enlargement out of concern for "ties with Russia".
On Tuesday, the EP's Legal Affairs Committee blocked the confirmation of Tročanji and Romanian Rovana Plumb, who was nominated for transport commissioner.
The committee did not publicly state the reasons for such a decision, but the letters sent to the chairman, which the Politiko portal had access to, reveal what caused the concern.
In the case of the Romanian woman, the board stated that she received a loan from someone who "works professionally in the field of tourism" and that it is not clear how it will be repaid "in an open and transparent manner". It is indicated that the issues imposed by the loan could "continue to create a potential conflict of interest in relation to other departments."
In the case of Tročanji, the former Minister of Justice, the committee is concerned about his relationship with the legal firm "Nađ i Tročanji", which he co-founded, and about the various decisions he made in relation to Russia, writes Politiko.
The committee was concerned about "his ties to Russia, particularly his role as justice minister in the extradition of Russian suspects to Moscow, who have since reportedly been acquitted despite US requests for their extradition."
Trocanji then approved the extradition of suspected arms dealers Vladimir Ljubišin Sr. and Vladimir Ljubišin Jr. to their homeland despite the US extradition request and the cooperation of Hungary and the US on the case.
Last November, the US publicly complained about Hungary's decision and said it had raised "questions about Hungary's commitment to law enforcement cooperation."
The Hungarian Ministry of Justice announced that Trocanji made the extradition decision based on judicial decisions, relevant laws and international agreements.
In the letter, the EP committee also expressed concern about Tročanji's "involvement as the Minister of Justice in the 2018 contract won by the legal firm "Nađ i Tročanji" in connection with the Pakš II nuclear power plant, even though it contained a conflict of interest clause."
Russia loaned Hungary money to expand an existing power plant, with Russia's Rosatom as the main contractor for the project.
"Politiko" states that relations with Russia are a significant aspect of the function he was supposed to perform, because as commissioner for enlargement, he would deal with countries such as Ukraine and the countries of the Western Balkans "where Russia has a great strategic interest."
Trocanji previously told MPs that the law firm he founded in 1991 did not receive new tenders from the Hungarian government while he was justice minister. However, as Politiko writes, documents published last year show that the company signed a contract with the Hungarian Prime Minister's office to provide legal assistance in connection with the Paks project.
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