Right to clinch key posts in Parliament

Date: 08/07/1999

By Gareth Harding
THE Christian Democrats are set to gain control of three out of five of the European Parliament's most powerful committees after their landslide victory in last month's Euro-elections.

The Socialists, who held most of the assembly's key posts in the last legislature, will only head two top committees, while the Greens and Liberals will take command of one apiece.

Political control of Parliament's highly influential committees is decided arithmetically under the so-called 'D'Hondt system'. Under this procedure, the biggest political party - currently the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) - gets first choice of the plum chairmanships available and the next largest group, the Socialists, has second bite at the cherry.

After this, control of the committees is shared out according to how many members the parties have. This is likely to mean the EPP and Socialists will have third and fourth choice and the EPP the fifth, with the Liberals and Greens pipping the left to the sixth and seventh.

The Christian Democrats are expected to use their pole position to take charge of the committee on industry, trade, research and energy. Along with the environment committee, this is likely to have the heaviest legislative workload and will have a high profile as the EU prepares for the Millennium Round of global free trade talks.

If the EPP opts to head the beefed-up body, German MEP Karl von Wogau is odds-on favourite to carry on in his old job, leaving the Socialists free to front the budgets committee. UK Labour member Terry Wynn looks best placed to fill the shoes of outgoing chairman Detlev Samland in what is considered to be one of Parliament's most powerful posts.

Labour's chances of gaining control of a major committee were boosted by this week's decision by the UK's Pauline Green to step down as Socialist Group leader. Green, who was heavily criticised for her handling of the Commission crisis earlier this year, will be replaced by former Parliament President Enrique Baron Crespo from Spain.

The EPP's second choice is likely to be either the committee for economic and monetary affairs or foreign and security policy. Neither of these have any legislative powers, but both are seen as showpiece bodies now that the EU has treaty powers in these areas. Having failed in his bid to become leader of the Christian Democrats, Elmar Brok is believed to covet the foreign affairs post.

If the Socialists cling on to control of the environment committee, German MEP Dagmar Roth-Behrendt is a sure bet to follow in the footsteps of outgoing Labour chair Ken Collins.

However, the UK Conservatives might be tempted to make a pitch for the committee after their strong showing in the Euro-poll. Alternatively, they may use their weight to seek the chairmanship of the budgetary control committee.

MEPs will vote on the political parties' candidates at the assembly's first session later this month. Before then, political groups have the difficult task of balancing the strength of national parties with the ambitions of high-ranking members. One parliamentary official said the whole process was like a "game of poker with 15 different decks".

Keyword: D'Hondt system.