Higgins appointed Euro Parliament Quaestor

Higgins appointed Euro Parliament Quaestor


Anton McNulty

North-west MEP Jim Higgins has been appointed as one of five Quaestors of the European Parliament, a body responsible for administrative and financial matters directly concerning members and their working conditions.
The Fine Gael MEP was elected last Wednesday by an absolute majority on the first vote and is the only Irish MEP that will serve on the Bureau of the European Parliament. The body consists of the Parliament President, 14 Vice Presidents and five Quaestors.
“I am honoured to be elected as one of the five Quaestors of the European Parliament and to have been elected on the first count. I look forward to ensuring that the operations of the European Parliament are streamlined and work as efficiently as possible,” declared Jim Higgins following his election.
The European Parliament elects the Quaestors after the election of the President and the 14 Vice-Presidents and are elected by a majority secret ballot in three rounds. An absolute majority of the votes cast is required for the first two rounds and a relative majority is sufficient for the last round. Their term of office is two and a half years and they have an advisory role in the Bureau.
The Quaestors are responsible for administrative and financial matters that directly affect members, such as making general services and equipment available. They can present proposals to modify or rewrite texts on all rules adopted by the Bureau and they generally meet once a month.
The term Quaestors comes from the Ancient Roman Republic where Quaestors were elected officials who supervised the treasury and financial affairs of the state, its armies and its officers.