EU lawmakers back Briton Julian King for security commissioner

Strasbourg,13 Sept. - (ANA) - A European Parliament committee endorsed Julian King on Tuesday as Britain's new member of the European Commission with responsibility for security, the committee chariman said.
King's confirmation in office would now go to party leaders and be put to a parliamentary vote on Thursday, Claude Moraes, chair of the civil liberties committee told reporters. Lawmakers expect him to be accepted by a clear majority.

Despite questions over the role a British government nominee could play on an EU executive as Britain prepares to leave the bloc following June's Brexit referendum, King, a diplomat and former Commission staffer, had impressed the committee with his grasp on the security portfolio, Moraes said.

The previous British commissioner, Jonathan Hill, resigned following the referendum. - (ANA) -

AB/ANA/ 13 September 2016 - - -