it’s time for the grand oral before Parliament

They will be the faces of Europe for the next five years, unless… The 26 commissioners proposed by the Member States of the European Union (EU) to Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the Commission, will soon form the new Brussels executive. Their mission is vast: they set the rules for the Internet in Europe, negotiate international trade agreements, define fishing quotas, prepare the future of electric cars on the continent, etc. But before taking up the files, there remains one last, formidable step to take: having a grand oral hearing in front of the deputies of the European Parliament.

This moment, the most democratic in the political life of institutions, is anything but a routine examination. From November 4 to 12, MEPs will carefully check the candidates’ competence, independence and European commitment. In practice, parliamentarians transformed into sleuths sift through their old declarations and political actions. Exercise can kill a career. In 2019, at the start of the last legislature, three candidates jumped, including Frenchwoman Sylvie Goulard: MEPs accused her of being involved in a case of fictitious jobs and of having been permanently paid by an American think tank while She was a parliamentarian.

This year, the weak links in the Commission could be more numerous. The Cypriot Kostas Kadis, former Minister of the Environment, designated for Fisheries and Oceans, could be criticized for his inaction in a case of illegal dumping despite receiving European funds. The Hungarian Oliver Varhelyi, outgoing Commissioner for Enlargement, nominated for Health and Animal Welfare, was denounced for having followed the line of his compatriot Viktor Orban more than that of the EU. Slovenian Marta Kos (Enlargement) will undoubtedly have to explain allegations of links with the secret police of the former communist Yugoslavia in the 1980s (which she denies).

“If one draws, everything jumps”

For their part, the Belgian Hadja Lahbib (Humanitarian Aid) could be questioned over visas granted to Iranian officials while she was Minister of Foreign Affairs. Bulgarian Ekaterina Zaharieva (Research and Innovation) will be reminded of accusations made by an official in a case of illegal passport sales when she was Minister of Foreign Affairs – which she refutes. And the Spaniard Teresa Ribera (Transition and Competition), hostile to nuclear power, will be questioned on this point by French and Eastern European deputies, favorable to the atom. Non-exhaustive list.

Will these hearings lead to a settling of scores between the parliamentary groups? If the left attacks the Bulgarian conservative, the right can take revenge by targeting the Spanish socialist. “If one draws, everything explodes,” warns someone familiar with the hemicycle. A failed candidate maintained by Ursula von der Leyen would expose her to a rejection by her entire commission. Applicants have been warned, there is no question of missing their casting.