Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – EU lawmakers will review new Commission members assessing their qualifications for leadership.
European Union lawmakers will vet the proposed new EU Commission members on 4 Nov 2024. Over five days of hearings, the EU parliamentarians will examine 26 top officials — nominated by their national governments — to demonstrate whether they are suitable to lead the next European Commission on approaches like agriculture, trade, economic affairs, health or migration.
The European Commission is the only EU body with the authority to draft laws which, once passed by the Parliament and the council of member states, apply in all 27 nations of the bloc. They cover everything from water quality to data protection to competition policy. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen formed her new-look executive in September, aiming to balance sensitive political, geographical and gender regards within a team that will lead the European project for the next five years.
How will EU lawmakers evaluate commission nominees?
Candidates will be questioned for three hours by the leaders of committees and senior lawmakers most closely related to their portfolios. The nominees must indicate general competence, a commitment to Europe, independence, and good communication talents.
Immediately after, an evaluation is made behind closed doors. Candidates must succeed a two-thirds majority vote. If they fall short, lawmakers can request additional questions in writing or request a further 90-minute grilling. The vote outcomes should remain secret until the entire hearing process concludes on Nov. 12.Â
How does the commission influence trade and regulations?
The EU Commission is similar to a government cabinet, with commissioners instead of ministers. But it proposes regulations that influence all aspects of the lives of around 450 million people in the 27 countries that make up the world’s largest trading bloc. Von der Leyen is the leader of more than 33,000 employees.
The commission oversees trade talks, sealing arrangements with EU partners in the outside world and managing conflicts at the World Trade Organization. It’s also a powerful competition watchdog, whose influence has been handled by tech giants like Apple, Google and Meta.
