Before a new European Commission takes office, the relevant European Parliament Committees hold hearings for the new Commissioners designated by European Commission’s President in order to assess their suitability and skills for their new jobs. European Parliament hearings are part of the EU procedure to approve the new college of commissioners.

The hearings for the commissioners designated by José Manuel Barroso for the next European Commission are currently taking place in Brussels and Strasbourg. They started on 11 January and will finish on 19 January. All 26 candidates must face three hours of questions from MEPs on the committee covering their portfolio. A final vote on the whole college of Commissioners will take place on 26 January.

The Parliament set up a dedicated hearings’ website with all the information about the hearings including the dates as well as the CVs of the candidates and the written answers the Commissioners-designate have submitted in response to questions from members of the committees they will face http://www.europarl.europa.eu/hearings/default.htm?language=en

All 26 hearings can be seen online on the “EP-Live” website http://www.europarltv.europa.eu/ParliamentLive.aspx

Hearings’ Schedule

Below is the schedule of the Commissioners-designate’ hearings:

• Joaquín ALMUNIA, Competition: 12 January, 16:30-19:30.
• László ANDOR, Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion: 13 January, 13-16.
• Catherine ASHTON, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security: 11 January, 13-16.
• Michel BARNIER, Internal Market and Services: 13 January, 16:30-19:30  
• Dacian CIOLOS, Agriculture and Rural Development: 15 January, 9-12
• John DALLI, Health and Consumer Policy: 14 January, 13-16
• Maria DAMANAKI, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries: 19 January, 9-12
• Karel DE GUCHT, Trade: 12 January, 9-12
• Štefan FÜLE, Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy: 12 January, 13-16
• Johannes HAHN, Regional Policy: 14 January, 16:30-19:30
• Connie HEDEGAARD, Climate Action: 15 January, 9-12
• Maire GEOGHEGAN-QUINN, Research and Innovation: 13 January, 16:30-19:30
• Rumiana JELEVA, International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response: 12 January, 16:30-19:30
• Siim KALLAS, Transport: 14 January, 9-12.
• Neelie KROES, Digital Agenda: 14 January, 16:30-19:30
• Janusz LEWANDOWSKI, Budget and Financial Programming: 11 January, 13-16
• Cecilia MALMSTRÖM, Home Affairs: 19 January, 9-12
• Günter OETTINGER, Energy: 14 January, 9-12
• Andris PIEBALGS, Development: 11 January, 16:30-19:30
• Janez POTOČNIK, Environment: 13 January, 13-16
• Viviane REDING, Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship: 12 January, 13-16
• Olli REHN, Economic and Monetary Affairs: 11 January, 16:30-19:30
• Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration: 18 January, 18-21.
• Algirdas ŠEMETA, Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud: 12 January, 9:12.
• Antonio TAJANI, Industry and Entrepreneurship: 18 January, 18-21
• Androulla VASSILIOU, Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth: 14 January, 13-16.

For more information, go to: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/hearings/default.htm?language=en