The news that Antonio Tajani has been nominated to replace Jacques Barrot as Commissioner for Transport highlights a problem of accountability in the EU.

Before he can take up his duties, he’ll have to appear before Parliament’s Transport Committee, but considering he’s an MEP already we can assume the business is in the bag. In any case, the committee has no power of veto.

So we have an elected MEP relinquishing his duties in favour of a more influential job. I wonder what the people who voted for him would make of that.

His appointment follows the recent resignation of MEP Alex Stubb, who was appointed Finland’s foreign minister.