The European Parliament has laid out plans for the upcoming hearings to evaluate the commissioners-designate nominated by President Ursula von der Leyen. The hearings are scheduled to take place from 4 to 12 November, with parliamentary committees playing a key role in scrutinizing the candidates. The detailed schedule is yet to be finalized, but committees responsible for environmental issues and industry are expected to be particularly active during the process. Other prominent committees, such as Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, and Employment and Social Affairs, will also have a role in the hearings.
Stéphane Séjourné, designated as industry commissioner, and Belgian candidate Hadja Lahbib are set to face the most committees, with each scheduled to be questioned by four committees. Séjourné will additionally face four invited committees. The involvement of various committees illustrates the breadth of expertise and scrutiny that will be applied to the candidates. The committees involved include a wide range of areas such as Foreign Affairs, Economic and Monetary Affairs, Agriculture, Fisheries, and many more.
The committee responsible for legal affairs, JURI, has already begun its work by examining declarations of conflicts of interest. The committee is expected to deliver its opinion on 18 October. This, along with the responses of the designated commissioners to written questions from MEPs, are crucial steps in the process leading up to the hearings. The European Parliament aims to approve the new composition of the Commission during the plenary session scheduled for 25 to 28 November, although the timeline may be impacted by challenging hearings for some candidates.
The upcoming hearings mark an important phase in the confirmation process for the commissioners-designate. During the hearings, the candidates will have the opportunity to demonstrate their expertise and fitness for the roles they have been nominated for. They will also need to address any potential conflicts of interest and respond to queries from MEPs. The involvement of various parliamentary committees showcases the thorough evaluation that will be conducted to ensure that the commissioners-designate are well-suited to their positions.
The focus on environmental issues and industry in the hearings reflects the priorities of the new Commission under President von der Leyen. With climate change and sustainable development high on the agenda, the scrutiny of commissioners responsible for these areas is expected to be intense. The involvement of committees such as Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, and Employment and Social Affairs highlights the broad range of issues that will be addressed during the hearings.
The process leading up to the hearings involves multiple steps, including the analysis of conflicts of interest by the legal affairs committee and responses to written questions from MEPs. These steps are essential in ensuring transparency and accountability in the confirmation process. The timeline for the approval of the new composition of the Commission is ambitious, with a plenary session planned for November. However, challenges during the hearings may impact this timeline, indicating the thoroughness of the evaluation process being undertaken by the European Parliament.
