THE NEW – WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The new European Commission is taking shape, following last week’s announcement of the full line-up of new Commissioners and their portfolios. President-elect has achieved the gender parity she sought, with 13 of the 27 Commission posts taken by women. The portfolios have been carefully allocated, taking into account the previous experience of the nominees, as well as the size and relative influence of each Member State.

The Commissioners-designate will now be vetted by the Committees before a plenary vote on the full college of Commissioners next month. The hearings are an opportunity for MEPs to win political points and media attention. Given the frustration over the rejection of the Spitzenkandidat process, we can expect the Parliament to assert itself during the vetting process through threatening to withhold its approval from poorly performing nominees. As von der Leyen will be eager to ensure a straightforward vote in plenary, she is likely to listen seriously to the Parliament’s concerns.

Below we set out what to expect from the hearing process and key dates ahead of the new Commission taking office on 1 November.

TIMELINE: 30 SEPT - 8 OCT Hearings of Commissioners-designate. 19 SEPTEMBER October 2: (Justice) and 23 OCTOBER 1 NOVEMBER Decision on which Committee Sylvie Goulard (Internal Market); European Parliament plenary New Commission takes office. will interrogate each nominee; October 3: Margaritis Schinas (VP - vote on the full College of European way of life); October 8: Margrethe Committees issue written questions Vestager (VP – tech and digital), Valdis Commissioners. to Commissioners-designate. Dombrovskis (VP – financial services)

X SEPTEMBER 26 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 31 OCTOBER DECEMBER Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee The Commissioners-designate The Parliament’s Conference of UK expected to withdraw from Expected publication of examines the financial declarations provide answers to written Presidents discusses the Committees’ the EU. European Commission 2020 work of each Commissioner-designate to questions. recommendations. Commissioners- programme ensure no conflict of interests. designate may be requested to attend a second hearing on 14/15 October. THE NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION - WHAT HAPPENS NXXT? - WHAT THE NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION

19 September 2019 Cicero Group | 1 WHAT HAPPENS IN THE HEARINGS?

• Each nominee attends a single three-hour public hearing with the Committee (or Committees) most relevant to their portfolio. Each political group is allocated a specific amount of time according to its relative size.

• Nominees face questions on their general competence and commitment to the EU, as well as specific questions on the issues within their portfolio and legislative priorities.

• Each Committee makes a decision on the nominee they have heard. Once all nominees are approved, the full college faces a final vote in plenary. A simple majority empowers the to formally appoint the new Commission.

• If a Committee is not satisfied with the answers given during a hearing, MEPs can request further information through written questions and a second hearing. This is not unusual: in 2014, the UK’s nominee was subject to a second hearing while Slovenian candidate Alenka Bratušek was rejected due to her inexperience. President von der Leyen will be keen to avoid a difficult plenary vote, so is likely to listen seriously to MEPs’ concerns at the hearing stage.

ONES TO WATCH

Which hearings will be the most important to follow? Below we have selected our top 5 ‘ones to watch’

NAME OUR ANALYSIS

Vestager’s portfolio has increased significantly, giving her the role of coordinating the agenda on a ‘Europe that is fit for the digital age’ and retaining her role as Commissioner for Competition. As Executive VP, (Renew Vestager will have a team of 10 policy advisers and DG Competition at her disposal. She will co-lead the Europe, DK) work on a new strategy for Europe’s industrial future, a new SME strategy and a European approach on Executive Vice-President: artificial intelligence. In addition, she has been given responsibility for the new Digital Services Act and for Europe fit for the digital age coordinating the EU’s work on digital taxation. A popular and experienced policymaker, she is expected to perform well during her hearing.

Promoting Dombrovskis to Vice-President can largely be seen as an endorsement of his previous work in the area: completing the Banking Union, and speeding up the work on the Capital Markets Union. He has been (European People’s Party, tasked with developing a green financing strategy, a new FinTech Strategy and a comprehensive approach LV) Executive Vice-President: to fighting money laundering, with further support from DG FISMA showing the Commission’s increased An economy that works for attention in this area. Dombrovskis knows his portfolio well and is expected to perform well during his people

THE NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION - WHAT HAPPENS NXXT? - WHAT THE NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION hearing.

19 September 2019 Cicero Group | 2 NAME OUR ANALYSIS

Margaritis Schinas (Europe- an People’s Party, GR) A respected and experienced EU figure, Schinas’ appointment met with criticism due to a backlash against Executive Vice-President: his portfolio title. While Schinas is likely to perform well in the hearing, he can expect to face calls from MEPs Protecting our European way for the portfolio name to be changed. of life

The Internal Market portfolio gives Goulard responsibility for the Single Market, as well as the digital economy and the defence industry. She will have significant influence on tech policy, including leading Sylvie Goulard (Renew on a coordinated approach on AI and the expected Digital Services Act. Given the extent of her role she is Europe, FR) expected to have 14 cabinet members and will be supported by DG Connect, DG Grow (internal market) as Internal Market well as a new DG on Defence Industry and Space. She may face difficult questions during her hearing due to an ongoing investigation over alleged misuse of EU funds during her time as an MEP.

Irishman has been named the EU’s new trade commissioner, meaning he will be the EU’s chief Phil Hogan (European trade negotiator, if, and when, free trade negotiations commence between the EU and the UK after Brexit. A People’s Party, IE) Trade critic of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he can expect tough questions on his approach to negotiations with the UK.

GET IN TOUCH... If you would like more information or to find out more about how Cicero can support your organisation and its public affairs objectives in 2019, please do get in touch with Helena Walsh:

Helena Walsh, Managing Director - EU Public Affairs Kate Foster, Account Manager BXL: +32 (0)2 612 8152 BXL: +32 (0)2 612 8161 [email protected] [email protected] THE NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION - WHAT HAPPENS NXXT? - WHAT THE NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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