About: European Parliament hearings
Why the European Parliament rejected Sylvie Goulard
The parliamentary committees rejected the candidacy of France's Sylvie Goulard for the Commissioner's post, officially on ethical grounds. However, her refusal is also a sign that German conservatives are finding it difficult to trust French President Emmanuel Macron. EURACTIV France reports.
Gabriel breezes through cozy hearing on way to top EU digital job
Mariya Gabriel, the 38-year-old Bulgarian MEP tipped to become the new EU digital chief, told MEPs during her approval hearing that she wants to “comply” with the European Commission's policy priorities.
Wrap-up: first 100 days of #TeamJunckerEU
EURACTIV looks back at the first 100 days of the new European Commission led by Jean-Claude Juncker, showing how the new team progressed. VideoPromoted content
Cañete defends climate and energy credentials
Miguel Cañete, a controversial choice as Energy and Climate Commissioner, today (4 December) defended his credentials for the post. VideoPromoted content
Juncker: This will be the ‘last chance Commission’
The new Juncker Commission was approved on Wednesday after a vote in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Juncker wins support for ‘last-chance’ Commission
President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker secured confirmation for his new Commission from MEPs today (22 October), winning over a grand coalition of Socialists and centre-right MEPs, using a combination of charm and a few last-minute tweaks to policy. VideoPromoted content
Barroso’s swan song
European Commission President José Manuel Durão Barroso held a final speech in the European Parliament on Tuesday after 10 years in office. Speaking for over half an hour, Barroso pointed out at what he considered the achievements of the Barroso II Commission, highlighting trade agreements, the Banking Union and the climate goals. VideoPromoted content
Šef?ovi?: “The time for a European Energy Union has clearly come”
In a three-hour hearing at the European Parliament on Tuesday, Vice-President designate for Energy Union Maroš Šef?ovi? told MEPs that it is “Russia is increasingly using gas supply as an instrument of pressure and as a political weapon against Ukraine and this is totally unacceptable.”![Maroš Šef?ovi? will chair the trilaterals [European Parliament]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/02/maros_sefcovic_0.jpeg)
Sefcovic tells MEPs he has a vision for EU’s Energy Union
Maroš Šef?ovi?, the Slovak Commissioner-designate for the EU’s Energy Union, successfully defended his credentials for the post yesterday (20 October) in front of two parliamentary committees. EURACTIV Slovakia reports. VideoPromoted content
Bulc to MEPs: “You learned I walk on fire. I thought I would get burnt but I didn’t”
Slovenian Commissioner-designate for transport Violeta Bulc appeared to make an excellent impression on MEPs during her confirmation hearing at the European Parliament on Monday.
Bulc walks on fire… and survives
Slovenian Commissioner-designate for transport Violeta Bulc, who reportedly has trained as shaman and is able to walk on fire, made an excellent impression at her European Parliament confirmation hearing yesterday evening (20 October). VideoPromoted content
Will Bulc invite the Parliament to “look through the density of consciousness”?
New Slovenian Commissioner-designate for transport Violeta Bulc will be quizzed by MEPs on Monday, only two days before the new Juncker commission is due to be voted on by the European Parliament in Strasbourg,![[European Parliament/Flickr]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/01/european_parliament_plenary_crediteuropean_parliament_flickr.jpeg)
Juncker to request Parliament’s approval on 22 October
The European Parliament has set the hearings of Slovenia’s commissioner-designate Violeta Bulc, and, Slovakia’s Maroš Šef?ovi?, for Monday (20 October), opening the way, if everything goes well, for a vote on the entire team of President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker, on 22 October. VideoPromoted content
Doubts loom over new Commission start date
Doubts loom over new Commission start date![Jean-Claude Juncker [European Commission]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/11/juncker_commission_jean-claude_credit-european_commission_stretch.jpeg)
Juncker plans team reshuffle
Commission President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker, has proposed a minor reshuffle of his team following the EU parliament's rejection of the Slovenian nominee to the European Commission.
If Bulc is nominated, the next Dan Brown novel should be about the Brussels bubble
Some Europeans are deeply respectful of European institutions and serious about the jobs of the persons that lead it. It is a valuable project that brought peace, prosperity and democracy to the continent. It deserves full support. On the other hand, the Slovenian centre-left was cheering to the song that refrains “Europe is a gang of thieves” [see related EURACTIV article].
Slovenian MEP the favourite to replace Bratušek
The two largest parties in the European Parliament have today (10 October) backed Socialist MEP Tanja Fajon to replace Alenka Bratušek as Slovenia's Commissioner in the new Juncker Commission. VideoPromoted content
Parliament confirms Hill as EU Commissioner
Jonathan Hill was confirmed by the European Parliament on Wednesday as EU Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, after facing questions by MEPs over his commitment to the EU and whether he would use the position to work in favour of the City of London. Hill was the only Commissioner called back to a second hearing with MEPs.
Poto?nik may get fourth term
Current Slovenian Commissioner Janez Poto?nik could be the choice of Prime Minister Miro Cerar, replacing Alenka Bratušek, the only Juncker Commissioner-designate that MEPs rejected.
Juncker team denies Bratušek threw in the towel
The European Commission strongly denied Wednesday (8 October) growing rumours that Slovenia’s Alenka Bratušek, Commissioner and Vice-President-designate for Energy Union, has abandoned plans to join the Juncker team following an unconvincing hearing Monday. VideoPromoted content
Timmermans supports mandatory EU lobby register
In a three-hour hearing at the European Parliament on Tuesday, designated First Vice-President Frans Timmermans told MEPs if approved, he would draw up proposals for mandatory lobby register across EU institutions.![Frans Timmermans at his Parliament hearing [European Parliament / Flickr]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/05/frans_timmermans_ep.jpeg)
Popular Timmermans signals mandatory register of lobbyists
The Juncker Commission will work to dissect and discard bureaucracy and introduce a mandatory register for lobbyists across the EU institutions, the designated First Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, told MEPs in a well-received hearing yesterday (7 October). VideoPromoted content
Mogherini: “We will need to reassess relations with Russia in the next 5 years”
Vice-president designate and High Representative-designate of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini has said that even though Russia could not be seen as a “strategic partner” anymore, Moscow was nonetheless a “strategic country and neighbour.” VideoPromoted content
