Slovenian commissioner-designate for transport Violeta Bulc has been approved by the European parliament, the second candidate put forward after the previous nominee Alenka Bratušek was overwhelmingly rejected with 122 votes out of 135 against her nomination.
Bulc proved to be a much more popular choice with MEPs and is set to become commissioner for transport. With only four days to prepare for the hearings, Bulc reportedly gave a good account of herself, answering questions on subjects including trans-European networks for transport, lowering the number of fatal road accidents, Uber taxis, and airport controls to combat Ebola.
Furthermore she spoke almost entirely in English which was viewed as a positive by many members of the committee, especially given that Alenka Bratušek had spoken only in Slovenian.
"Bulc will help Juncker to implement a change of culture within the European commission. She will help him to create a commission that is less bureaucratic, a commission that will make Europe more innovative, more SME-friendly and therefore better able to face the competition with the other trading blocs" - Guy Verhofstadt
Prior to the hearings, ALDE group leader Guy Verhofstadt was particularly pleased with Bulc's nomination, highlighting, "Bulc will help Juncker to implement a change of culture within the European commission. She will help him to create a commission that is less bureaucratic, a commission that will make Europe more innovative, more SME-friendly and therefore better able to face the competition with the other trading blocs."
EPP transport committee coordinator Wim Van de Camp also felt Bulc was satisfactory for the role, saying, "She seems to be an intelligent woman and has already expressed some strong opinions: no social dumping and more investment. I expect her to learn the details of the transport dossier quickly if she is confirmed."
S&D spokesperson on transport Ismail Ertug, meanwhile, expected Bulc to follow the plan outlined by Maroš Šefčovič, who had been slated to be transport commissioner prior to the rejection of Bratušek. "We expect Violeta Bulc to go ahead with the overall plan of the commission to modernise infrastructures and invest part of the €300bn in the transport sector in order to promote sustainable growth, innovation and smart job creation", he said.
"We expect Violeta Bulc to go ahead with the overall plan of the commission to modernise infrastructures and invest part of the €300bn in the transport sector in order to promote sustainable growth, innovation and smart job creation" - Ismail Ertug
"As we clearly stated before giving our support, she must keep Šefčovič's commitment to promote a social package for the transport sector. There can be no liberalisation of the road freight market if safe working conditions and the social rights of drivers are not assured at the same pace."
Violeta Bulc, who only joined the Slovenian government in September as a minister without portfolio responsible for development, strategic projects and cohesion and a vice-president in the government of prime minister Miro Cerar, is a telecoms entrepreneur known for her varying interests including basketball, tae kwon do and her training as a shaman.
She is also known for practising fire-walking, a subject that came up during the hearings to which she responded in her closing remarks, saying, "You learned I walk on fire. There were some moments that I thought I would get burnt, but that did not happen."
Violeta Bulc will become commissioner for transport on November 1 if the new Juncker commission is approved by parliament.