Following formal interviews the day before, European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen has formally nominated Hungarian Oliver Varhelyi and French Thierry Breton as commissioners, a spokeswoman for the body confirmed on Tuesday, the V4 news agency reported.

Responding to questions from journalists, Mina Andreeva said that von der Leyen had found the two candidates suitable and informed the European Council, comprising the heads of state or government of the EU member states, so that the approval procedure in the European Parliament (EP) could begin.

The president-elect has previously asked France, Hungary and Romania to appoint new nominees, after the relevant EP committees rejected the first candidates of these countries for various reasons.