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The European Parliament verifies the new commissioners

2024-11-05 09:51:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

MEPs will verify in a few days the suitability of the new EU commissioners. It is possible that some of them will not pass, but this rarely happens.

26 politicians will be "on the hot seat" in Brussels these days (4-12.11). The European Parliament will question them and verify whether they are suitable for the highest positions in the new European Commission - the central institution of the EU, where there are 38,000 employees.

Each candidate faces three hours of numerous questions from eight groups of deputies of the European Parliament. Only when the deputies in the plenum fully approve the new composition of the European Commission, the new team led by the old and new president Ursula von der Leyen can start work on December 1.

Ursula von der Leyen has already been confirmed by the European Parliament with the proposal of the member states.

What are you allowed to ask?

Basically, everything. Deputies prepare questions about professional career, financial interests, dark spots in biography, moral and political attitudes. The aim is to expose the weaknesses of both male and female candidates. The behavior during the verification is also evaluated: self-confidence, irritation, stuttering or (un)clear statements.

The questioning takes place according to strict rules, the speaking time is set. After questioning, the members of the relevant committee vote with a two-thirds majority to immediately decide whether the test is passed or not.

What happens if someone doesn't pass?

The deputies call on the country where the candidate who did not pass comes from, to send a new candidate. But this new candidate must also be put to the vote.

Since 2004, the parliament has rejected the candidates six times, as a kind of demonstration of its power over the European Commission. In 2004, this happened to ultraconservative Italian Rocco Buttiglione, who called homosexuals "sinners, not criminals." Even the French candidate Silvi Goulard was forced to give up her candidacy in 2019, due to doubts about her engagement with American companies. Which candidates might have problems?

The left and liberal clubs of deputies in the parliament are especially targeting the European commissioner, Hungarian Oliver Varhelyi. He was Commissioner for Enlargement in the last term, while now he is running for the health and animal protection sector. Varhelyi is considered a loyal follower of Hungary's right-wing prime minister, Viktor Orban.

Three right-wing and far-right groups in the European Parliament may oppose Belgian candidate Hajja Lahbib, who is liberal-leaning. Rejection is also possible for the candidate from Bulgaria, Ekatarina Zaharieva. The former Bulgarian Foreign Minister was involved in a scandal surrounding the sale of Bulgarian citizenship.

Even the candidate from Malta may not pass. Some MPs criticize Glenn Micallef, the Maltese prime minister's chief of staff, as having too little political experience for the post of commissioner for youth, culture and sport.

Right-wing Italian candidate Rafale Fito is likely to pass without a problem. Parliament has reservations, but it is suspected that it will risk rejecting the candidate of the right-wing Italian prime minister, Gjorgje Meloni. Meloni has influence in Brussels and is always presented as a pro-European who has successfully removed the post-fascist label from her name.

What role does Viktor Orban play in the background?

If the parliament rejects the Hungarian commissioner, Prime Minister Orban could delay the inauguration of the new EU Commission for several weeks or even months. If he did not send another candidate, or if he sent someone unsuitable, Parliament would not be able to confirm the European Commission as a whole and he would not be able to take office.

Orban is seen as an opponent of the EU and can play the role of blocker. For a long time he believes that something fundamental must change in Brussels and in the EU, because, according to him, the European Commission is behaving like a "political bureau from the time of the former Soviet Union".

The EU has currently frozen billions of euros for Hungary from the European budget as Viktor Orbán ignores the rulings of the European Court of Justice and autocratically rules his country.

What is new in the new European Commission?

President Ursula von der Leyen envisioned a new structure of functions for her second term. The Commission has put more emphasis on strengthening the European economy in the transition to climate-neutral production, but less on the fight against climate change.

The new portfolios are Protection, Animal Protection, Housing and the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean? Yes, Croatian Commissioner Dubravka Shuica should deal with the EU's southern neighbors in North Africa, in order to expand the common economic and security space with the EU. Other commissioners are responsible for fisheries, oceans and tourism.

How much do EU commissioners earn?

The position of EU commissioner is not unattractive. The basic salary is almost 26,000 euros gross per month. The chairman of the commission receives 31,800 euros without allowances. For comparison, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz earns around 32,000 euros per month, including allowances./ DW