Dutch foreign minister tipped for EU commission job

THE HAGUE, Sept 2  (AFP): Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans was in Brussels on Tuesday for talks with EU President Jean-Claude Juncker about becoming a commissioner in his new administration, Dutch media reported.

Timmermans, from the centre-left PvdA party, is in the running to become one of the Commission's vice presidents, state broadcaster NOS reported, as well as possibly having an economics portfolio.

Polyglot Timmermans gained international renown following his emotive speech at the UN in the aftermath of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in July, in which 298 people died, most of them Dutch.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte was reportedly set to tell parliament about Timmermans' candidacy later on Tuesday.

Timmermans is a former Europe minister and assistant to former commissioner Hans van den Broek.

He could become a so-called "super-commissioner" as Juncker's right-hand man, Dutch media reported.

Former development minister Bert Koenders, currently heading the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, would likely replace Timmermans at the foreign ministry if he went to Brussels.

Rutte's office and the foreign ministry declined to comment on possible Dutch EU Commission candidates.

Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem -- also the head of the Eurogroup of 18 eurozone nations -- is reportedly no longer a commission candidate, although there is uncertainty over whether he will stay on as Eurogroup head when his terms expires next year.