Belgian Hadja Lahbib and her 25 fellow European commissioners-designate will undergo their confirmation hearings at the European Parliament from November 4 to 12, the presidents of the assembly’s political groups decided on Wednesday.
Before taking office in the 2024-2029 college, which must once again be chaired by the German Christian Democrat Ursula von der Leyen, each candidate commissioner must pass an in-depth examination before the parliamentary committees in charge of the subjects assigned to them. .
Responsible for crisis management, humanitarian aid and equality, the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs of the resigning government will be questioned by no less than four parliamentary committees: Development (DEVE), Women’s Rights and Gender Equality ( FEMM), Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) and Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI).
Another example, the Frenchman Stéphane Séjourné, responsible for prosperity and industrial strategy, will be questioned by the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) committees, as well as ENVI.
Up to six auditions per day are scheduled. Parliament’s authorities will decide next week the order in which the designated commissioners will appear.
If one or the other designated candidate fails to convince, he or she may be re-examined, re-auditioned, or even replaced. Once all confirmation hearings have been successfully completed, the President-elect will present the college of commissioners and its program to the plenary of Parliament, before a debate and a vote to elect or reject the Commission as a whole, by a majority of votes cast. (by roll call).
