Günther Oettinger has been nominated as the European energy commissioner

The former premier of the southern German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Guenther Oettinger, has been facing questioning in the European Parliament as a possible member of the EU Commission - the Union's executive branch. Each of the 27 member states sends one commissioner to work under the body's President, Jose Manuel Barroso. The European Parliament has until next week to approve the team of commissioners, following a series of question and answer sessions.