New commissioner

László Andor, a Hungarian economics professor, has been given responsibility for economic and social policy in the 27-strong European Commission, which initiates EU legislation.

His appointment must still be confirmed by the European Parliament later this month.

He is currently a board member of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which is owned by governments and international institutions, and he was previously an economics adviser to the Hungarian government.

He is editor of a left of centre academic journal in Hungary, and the country’s right-wing Fidesz party has said that its MEPs will oppose his confirmation in the European Parliament.