Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In a pivotal meeting today, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen outlined the structure and portfolios of the proposed new College of Commissioners. This marks the beginning of a rigorous vetting process by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) as they assess the suitability of the incoming commissioners.
The next step in the process involves a series of confirmation hearings, following parliamentary review of all necessary documents. The Committee on Legal Affairs will first examine the declarations of interests for all Commissioners-designate, an essential precondition for the hearings.
Once cleared, the Commissioners-designate will respond to written questions from European Parliament, which will be published ahead of the hearings. Each candidate will then face a three-hour public confirmation hearing before the relevant parliamentary committee, with particularly complex portfolios potentially extending the session to four hours.
MEPs will evaluate each Commissioner-designate based on their competence, commitment to European values, independence, and knowledge of their assigned portfolios. A key focus will also be placed on communication skills. After the hearings, committee coordinators will draft evaluation letters, summarizing the findings and making recommendations on the candidates.
What are the next steps after the hearings?
If the coordinators reach a two-thirds majority in support of a Commissioner-designate, the confirmation will move forward. If not, additional written questions or follow-up hearings could be requested. The evaluation letters will then be sent to the Conference of Presidents, which will decide whether the confirmation process can be closed.
Should the hearings proceed smoothly, Ursula von der Leyen will present the new College of Commissioners and their proposed program to Parliament in a plenary session. A vote will follow, where the Parliament will either confirm or reject the entire Commission by a majority of votes cast.
With MEPs vowing to conduct a thorough and transparent vetting process, the coming weeks will be crucial in shaping the next European Commission.
