Timmermans to face questions on Commission restructuring

Timmermans will face group leaders in a 4-hour hearing session on 7 October.

Though 26 of the confirmation hearings for European Commission nominees to be held over the next two weeks in the European Parliament will by committees, the 27th will be something slightly different.

Frans Timmermans, nominated as the European Commission’s first vice-president and Commission President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker’s “right-hand man”, will have an open hearing with political group leaders instead of being questioned by committees.

The hearing will take place at 2.30pm on 7 October, and is open to all MEPs. It will take place either in the largest group meeting room of the Parliament or, perhaps, in the Parliament’s plenary chamber.

This open hearing will last longer than the other hearings, probably four hours.

The special status for Timmermans’ hearing reflects the unprecedented nature of his new role. He has been nominated to be first vice-president for better regulation, inter-institutional relations, rule of law and charter of fundamental rights. He is believed to be best placed to answer questions about structural changes to the Commission.

“Some questions will be to clarify the exact competencies of the roles,” said Roberto Gualtieri, chair of the economic and monetary affairs committee. “The Parliament supports the idea of having vice-presidents in charge of horizontal subject areas but wants a clear idea of who is responsible for what.”

Click here for the full schedule of confirmation hearings

There have been concerns about Juncker’s decision to combine portfolios and move topics between departments. Commissioner nominees are unlikely to provide detailed answers on the thinking behind Juncker’s restructuring decisions. It will fall to Timmermans to address these concerns.

 

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