In the next few days, there will be a flurry of questions in the parliament’s various committees.
For four hours, each of the 26 designated commissioners, one from each EU country, will be grilled.
They must then be measured and weighed, particularly with regard to whether they have the ability and competence to fill the portfolios they have been assigned.
Heavy pressure
The EU Parliament has the power to say yes or no to proposed commissioners and has previously shown muscle towards the commission by rejecting candidates.
Earlier this autumn, the opinion in Brussels was that more heads would roll, now there is greater doubt.
One of the reasons is that there has been heavy pressure on parliament to get the commission approved by 1 December so that it can get started.
The election in the United States on Tuesday, which Donald Trump may very well win, does not diminish the urgency.
Now the prevailing opinion is that everyone manages, writes Politico. Thus, the entire commission can be approved when the parliament gathers in Strasbourg at the end of November.
But nothing is certain.
Worst case
One of the two in the worst position is Italian Raffaele Fitto, who belongs to Giorgia Meloni’s far-right Italian Brothers party.
The red, yellow and green in parliament have warned Commission President Ursula von der Leyen against taking Meloni too much into the heat.
Von der Leyen has signed off on assigning Fitto a high position as vice-president of the commission. At the same time, she is torn between having to stroke both Meloni and the parliament.
Fitto will not be in the fire until Tuesday 12 November.
Another one around whom there have been many rumors is Hungary’s Oliver Varhelyi, who is running for re-election as commissioner.
Hard in the pinch
Large parts of the parliament are openly critical of Varhelyi, who many believe has been a puppet for Hungary’s controversial leader Viktor Orban.
At the same time, von der Leyen was so hard on Orban when he ran for parliament recently that the representatives may think that is sufficient.
Dane Anders Vistisen, who is whip in the party group Patriots for Europe on the far right wing in the EU Parliament, where Orban’s party Fidesz is a member, warns against giving Varhelyi the thumbs down.
– If they do it to humiliate the Patriots, we obviously do not see ourselves obliged to facilitate a quick approval by the commission, he says.
Pointing stick
Among those to be heard first is Malta’s candidate, Social Democrat Glenn Micallef. Monday’s grilling of him may give a clue as to which way it all goes.
If the largest party in parliament, the right-wing liberal EPP, votes him down, the red-green bloc and the liberal Renew Europe will probably retaliate by voting against the right-wing candidates.
The hearings of the heavyweights, among them Spain’s Teresa Ribera, who could become the second most powerful in the commission, France’s Stéphane Séjourné and Estonia’s Kaja Kallas, who has been designated as the EU’s new foreign affairs chief, will come on the last day of the hearings, November 12.
#Hard #drive #commissioners #starts #Parliament
Ursula von der Leyen children
**Interview with Dr. Clara Müller, EU Affairs Expert**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Müller. With Ursula von der Leyen’s recent re-election and the upcoming hearings for the designated commissioners, what are the key challenges the European Parliament is facing?
**Dr. Müller:** Thank you for having me. The approval process for the new commission is indeed crucial. The main challenge lies in the scrutiny of the 26 designated commissioners. Each will be rigorously questioned to assess their qualifications and competence for the portfolios they are expected to oversee. With only a limited time frame before the December deadline, the pressure is certainly on.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the pressure to finalize the commission’s approval by December 1st. What factors are contributing to this urgency?
**Dr. Müller:** Several factors play into this urgency. Firstly, there’s the anticipation of significant political shifts, particularly in the U.S. with the election results that could reshape international relations. Moreover, the European Parliament has previously exercised its power to reject commissioner candidates, and any instability within the commission could hinder EU governance. Thus, ensuring a seamless transition is paramount.
**Interviewer:** Let’s talk about the political dynamics at play. Raffaele Fitto’s appointment as a vice commissioner has raised concerns within the Parliament. How might this affect the overall approval process?
**Dr. Müller:** Fitto’s position is certainly controversial, given his affiliation with Giorgia Meloni’s far-right party. Some factions within the Parliament are wary of giving too much influence to such parties. This tension could complicate his confirmation and may lead to broader discussions regarding how the commission handles politically charged appointments moving forward.
**Interviewer:** What do you foresee happening in the upcoming hearings? Is there a chance for any surprises?
**Dr. Müller:** While there’s been a sense of cautious optimism that the commission will be approved by the end of November, the hearings always have the potential for unexpected outcomes. If any candidate fails to convince the Parliament of their suitability, it could shake up the structure of the commission. However, with the current political climate, it’s likely that the commission will eventually clear the hurdle, albeit perhaps with some last-minute adjustments.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Müller, for your insights. It’s certainly a pivotal time for the EU as it navigates these challenges.
**Dr. Müller:** Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to discuss these important developments.
