Ireland’s former minister for the environment Phil Hogan looks set to land the top agriculture job in the European Commission, having been officially announced as the nominee for the post of Agriculture Commissioner by the president elect of the EU Commission, Jean Claude Juncker.

Hogan is set to replace Dacian Ciolos, who returns to Romania having failed to get nominated for a post by Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta.

Approval

The process now requires Hogan to be approved by members of the European Parliament.  That is not a formality, and he is expected to be opposed by a number of Irish MEPs, including the four from Sinn Féin. But it is still widely anticipated that Hogan will gain enough support and formally begin his term in office by early November.