Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Vytautas Leskevicius responded to questions by seven MEPs from five groups in the EP at a plenary session in Strasbourg as to why the Council of the EU had appointed Mates to the ECA despite the EP's opposition.
Two MEPs also submitted two amendments to the 2014 EU budget, which have been approved by the Committee on Budgets and which will be voted on at a plenary session on Wednesday. They ask the suspension of EUR 1.8 million intended for Mates's office until he provides a satisfactory explanation of why he misinformed the EP.
Leskevicius said that in deciding to appoint Mates to the ECA, the Council had respected the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.
He recalled that the Council did not have the duty to follow the EP's opinion or take into account a candidate's statements before the EP.
During today's discussion, the seven MEPs did not question the legality of the Council's decision, but a majority asked how a candidate for such a high office could lie to MEPs representing 500 million European citizens.
They criticised Mates for committing in writing and verbally that he would withdraw his candidacy for the ECA if he did not get the EP's support, repeating that he had lied, to which Leskevicius said that such an expression was not typical in parliamentary discussions and that another word should be used.
Spain's Ines Ayala Sender of the Socialists and Democrats was the harshest, asking that the Council withdraw the decision on Mates's appointment. She said it would be best for both the Council and the EP.