Romanian PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu announced on Wednesday that he nominated Liberal Senator Varujan Vosganian to take over Romania’s seat in the European Commission once the country joins the European Union.

The news came shortly after the Reuters press agency had quoted Brussels sources according to whom Romania’s commissioner would be Justice minister Monica Macovei - a piece of information later proved to be unfounded.

“I am sure Varujan Vosganian, with his political experience and professional profile, would be able to fulfill his duties in this important position, which is one of a EU minister responsible for all EU countries”, PM Tariceanu said today.

He refused to name the other candidates for the job.

Senator Varujan Vosganian’s nomination had been confirmed for HotNews.ro by governmental sources several days ago. A Senator for Tariceanu’s National Liberal Party-PNL, with a PhD in economics, he would most probably receive an economic portfolio in the EU executive if confirmed in office.

A member of the PNL since 2003, he is currently heading the Budget-Finance Commission in the Romanian Senate.

The decision for the nomination comes after a meeting between PM Tariceanu and President Traian Basescu on Wednesday morning, which led to a decision that Basescu’s Democratic Party would chose a new Defense minister - instead of the newly resigned Teodor Atanasiu - while the PNL would receive the seat of Romania’s EU Commissioner.