Hearings of the Commissioners-designate

As a part of Social Platform's work ahead of the European elections we are aiming to prepare a selection of proposals for questions to the European Parliament's hearings of the Commissioners-designate. Considering the limitations in the number of questions during each hearing it will be particularly important for civil society actors to strategically coordinate their advocacy efforts.

Each responsible Committee in the Parliament will put forward five written questions sent to the candidate beforehand; one is designed to address personal commitment and independence, the other the management of the portfolio and three more policy-related questions asking about main priorities and legislative initatives. If it is an area of joint Committee responsibility they can each ask two questions, a total of 4 policy questions instead of three. After the last election these questions were formulated the same way see the Parliament's website (January, 2010).

Additionally the political groups may orally ask questions during the hearing, grouped according to theme.

The procedures are laid down in Annex XVII to its Rules of Procedure and consists of the following steps:

  1. Parliament receives the Commissioner-designates’ curriculum vitae and their declarations of financial interests.
  2. Parliament puts to the Commissioners-designate a series of written questions dealing mainly with the candidates’ policy priorities in their respective fields of responsibility. The candidates’ written replies provide the basis for the oral stage – the hearings.
  3. Each Commissioner-designate is invited to a three-hour public hearing with the parliamentary committee(s) responsible for the portfolio concerned. These hearings enable the committees to get to know the personalities of the Commissioners-designate and have a detailed exchange of views with the various candidates on their priorities in their prospective areas of responsibility.
  4. The committees then evaluate each of the Commissioners-designate. They check that the Commissioners-designate have the skills required not only to be Members of the Commission in general, but also to be in charge of a particular portfolio.
  5. The results of the hearings are sent to the President of Parliament and considered by the Conference of Presidents, comprising the President and all political group leaders, and by the Conference of Committee Chairs.
  6. The Commission President presents the College of Commissioners-designate and their programme to a plenary sitting of Parliament which the Council of the EU is invited to attend. This presentation is followed by a debate.
  7. Lastly, Parliament votes on approval of the whole European Commission as a body. The new Commission can then be formally appointed by the European Council, acting by a qualified majority.