Calendar for hearings of Commissioners-designate

European Parliament’s Conference of Presidents (EP President and leaders of political groups) has decided, on 12 September, the indicative calendar of the hearings of the Commissioners-designate.

EP-President David Sassoli: “The European Parliament is committed to guaranteeing that the process of electing the new European Commission will take place in the most democratic and transparent way possible. Commissioners-designate will now face a thorough public questioning on their skills and suitability as well as on their ability and willingness to address citizens’ concerns and deliver on the programme that President-elect Ursula von der Leyen presented to MEPs in July”.

Hearings will start on 30 September and last until 8 October. The detailed schedule of which Commissioner-designate will be heard by which committees and at which time slot will be decided by the Conference of Presidents at its next meeting on 19 September.

The hearings will be followed immediately by evaluation meetings by the Chair and group representatives (coordinators) of the various committees. On 15 October, the Conference of Committee Chairs will assess the outcome of all hearings and forward its conclusions to the Conference of Presidents. The latter is responsible for the final evaluation and decision to close the hearings or eventually request further actions, in its meeting on 17 October.

If additional hearings for Commissioners-designate or for alternative candidates should be needed, they would take place on 14 and 15 October, followed by evaluation by the Conference of Committee Chairs on 16 October before the final decision to close the hearings by the Conference of Presidents on 17 October.

Vote by European Parliament Plenary on the whole new European Commission is scheduled in Strasbourg for 23 October.

Source:European Parliament Newsroom