Kilkenny’s Phil Hogan to be handed EU’s most important Commission portfolio

By COLIN BARTLEY

THE Irish EU Commissioner from Kilkenny looks set to be handed one of the European Union’s most powerful roles.

Reports coming from Brussels say Phil Hogan, who is currently the EU Agriculture Commissioner, is set to be given the Trade Commissioner role.

It is understood Commissioner Hogan met with new Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last week to discuss his new role. President von der Leyen is expected to announce her cabinet in the coming days.

The trade portfolio could become the most important of all of the EU Commissions, as it is expected to include the role of World Trade Organisation discussions on top of its current role of protecting the trade interests of the EU member states.

The UK is hoping to create deals with the EU under WTO terms if it crashes out of the EU without a deal

The role of Trade Commissioner comes with a salary of €240,000 per annum.