Parliamentary hearings of the Commissioners- designate An analysis of the portfolios of the von der Leyen Commission COMPENDIUM OF BRIEFINGS EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service Members' Research Service PE 642.208 – November 2019 EN EDITOR These Briefings have been drawn up by the Members' Research Service of the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS). Contact: [email protected] LANGUAGE VERSIONS Original: EN This document is available on the internet at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2019)642208 DISCLAIMER This document is prepared for, and addressed to, the Members and staff of the European Parliament as background material to assist them in their parliamentary work. The content of the document is the sole responsibility of its author(s) and any opinions expressed herein should not be taken to represent an official position of the Parliament. Reproduction and translation for non-commercial purposes are authorised, provided the source is acknowledged and the European Parliament is given prior notice and sent a copy. Manuscript completed in September and November 2019. Brussels © European Union, 2019. Cover photo credits: © European Union, 2019; Etienne Ansotte. Contents Foreword 1 Parliamentary hearings of the Commissioners-designate: A decisive step in the investiture process 3 Portfolios of the Commissioners-designate Vice-Presidents Frans Timmermans European Green Deal 11 Margrethe Vestager A Europe fit for the Digital Age 19 Valdis Dombrovskis An Economy that Works for People 27 Josep Borrell Fontelles A Stronger Europe in the World (High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) 35 Maroš Šefčovič Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight 43 Věra Jourová Values and Transparency 47 Dubravka Šuica Democracy and Demography 51 Margaritis Schinas Promoting the European Way of Life 55 Commissioners Johannes Hahn Budget and Administration 59 Phil Hogan Trade 63 Mariya Gabriel Innovation and Youth 67 Nicolas Schmit Jobs and Social Rights 71 Paolo Gentiloni Economy 75 Janusz Wojciechowski Agriculture 79 Thierry Breton Internal Market 83 Elisa Ferreira Cohesion and Reforms 89 Stella Kyriakides Health 93 Didier Reynders Justice 97 Helena Dalli Equality 101 Ylva Johansson Home Affairs 105 Janez Lenarčič Crisis Management 109 Adina-Ioana Vălean Transport 113 Olivér Várhelyi Neighbourhood and Enlargement 117 Jutta Urpilainen International Partnerships 121 Kadri Simson Energy 125 Virginijus Sinkevičius Environment, Oceans and Fisheries 129 1 Foreword This compendium brings together a set of Briefings1 prepared by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) to assist Members of the European Parliament in gaining an overview of the parliamentary hearings of Commissioners-designate, which took place from 30 September to 8 October 2019, with additional hearings on 14 November. These public hearings form the backdrop to Parliament's confirmation vote on the College of Commissioners put forward by Ursula von der Leyen, following her own election as Commission President by the European Parliament in July 2019. In addition to an overview of the process, setting it in its historical and political context, this volume contains a briefing on each of the Commissioners-designate and their portfolios. Each of these briefings highlights some of the key issues and recent developments in the portfolio, as well as recalling the Parliament's activity in the area in the last parliamentary term. For further information on a range of topics relevant to individual hearings, please see the following publications: Bassot E., Unlocking the potential of the EU Treaties: An article-by-article analysis of the scope for action, EPRS, European Parliament, January 2019. Europe's two trillion euro dividend: Mapping the Cost of Non-Europe, 2019-24, EPRS, European Parliament, April 2019. The power of the European Parliament: Examples of EP impact during the 2014-19 legislative term, EPRS, European Parliament, April 2019. Bassot E. and Hiller W., The Juncker Commission's ten priorities: An end-of-term assessment, EPRS, May 2019. Drachenberg R. and Kotanidis S., The Future of Europe debates in the European Parliament, 2018-19 – A synthesis of the speeches by EU Heads of State or Government, EPRS, European Parliament, May 2019. Eatock D., Demographic outlook for the European Union 2019, EPRS, European Parliament, June 2019. D'Alfonso A., Delivorias A., Sapała M., Szczepański M., Zachariadis I., Economic and Budgetary Outlook for the European Union 2019, EPRS, European Parliament, January 2019. Lazarou E., Peace and Security in 2019: Overview of EU action and outlook for the future, EPRS, European Parliament, June 2019. See also: Fact Sheets on the European Union, European Parliament 'In Focus' policy papers on the What Europe does for me website, European Parliament The European Parliament's Think Tank website provide access to the full range of research publications prepared to assist Members in their parliamentary work. 1 Certain briefings have been amended to reflect the revised portfolio titles announced by the President- elect on 13 November 2019. 2 3 BRIEFING Parliamentary hearings of the Commissioners-designate A decisive step in the investiture process SUMMARY The hearings of the Commissioners-designate before the European Parliament's committees are a necessary ingredient in informing Parliament's decision to give its consent to, or reject, the proposed College. Each Commissioner-designate appears before a single hearing, involving one or more parliamentary committees, after responding to a written questionnaire and presenting his or her declaration of interests. In past hearings, the main points of criticism have been some candidates’ lack of specialist knowledge of their portfolio, their vague answers and reluctance to make commitments, the existence of possible conflicts of interests in relation to the assigned portfolio and concerns regarding the integrity of the candidate. From the 2004 investiture on, Parliament has used its role in the appointment of the Commission to press for the replacement of certain controversial candidates and to force adjustments to certain portfolios, although it can only reject or accept the College as a whole. Whilst some experts warn of excessive politicisation of the hearings, others welcome the increased accountability of the Commission to Parliament, and see the deepening political link between the two as a step towards further democratisation of the EU decision-making process. Hearings have become critical for Parliament's holding the Commission to account, and are gaining in significance as a means for Parliament to take a greater role in agenda-setting at EU level. This is a further updated and expanded version of a 2014 briefing by Eva-Maria Poptcheva. In this Briefing Parliament's role in the appointment of Commissioners The hearings procedure Critical issues in past hearings Strengthening the Commission's democratic accountability EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service Author: Maria Diaz Crego Members' Research Service PE 640.131 – September 2019 EN 4 EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service Parliament's role in the appointment of Commissioners Ever-increasing influence Commissioners were originally appointed by common accord of the Member States' governments for a renewable term of office of four years (Article 158 TCEE). The Commission was composed of nine members, with small Member States appointing one Commissioner, and large Member States (France, Germany and Italy) two. The founding Treaties did not involve the European Parliament in the procedure leading to the appointment of the Commission, although Commission Presidents used to deliver a general policy statement before Parliament when taking office. Once the Commission was in office, Parliament could adopt a motion of censure of the entire College. Parliament pushed to be involved in the investiture procedure in the 1970s and 1980s, to enhance the democratic legitimacy of the Commission. Although not required by the Treaties, Parliament’s efforts led to the introduction of a vote of confidence in the designated Commission as early as 1981. However, it was not until 1993, with the Maastricht Treaty, that Parliament formally gained a role in the appointment process. The Treaty aligned Parliament’s and Commission’s terms of office (5 years) and provided for Parliament to be consulted by Member States' governments before nominating the President of the Commission. Similarly, the Treaty required the President and Commissioners to be subject as a body to a vote of approval of Parliament (Article 158 TEC). Parliament adapted its Rules of Procedure, to provide for the nominated President to make a statement, followed by a debate, in Parliament (Rule 29) and for the nominated Commissioners to appear before parliamentary committees (Rule 29a) before the vote of approval. The first Commission subject to such 'hearings' was the Santer Commission in 1995, although President Jacques Santer accepted the new procedure only after receiving assurances from the Parliament´s President that there would be no parliamentary vote on individual Commissioners-designate.1 The model for 'confirmation hearings' was those held by the US Congress on presidential nominations to judicial and executive posts.2 The Amsterdam and Nice Treaties introduced further modifications in the composition of the Commission and the appointment procedure. With a view to the future enlargement