For three hours, Commissioner candidate Michael McGrath answered questions ranging from the European Democracy Shield to the GDPR. He explained plans to link compliance with the recommendations of the annual report on the rule of law more closely to access to EU funds.
By Corinna Visser
Commissioner-designate for Home Affairs and Migration Brunner showed flexibility during the hearing. He stands for a "fair but determined migration policy", said Brunner. At one point, however, it became too much for some MEPs.
By Eric Bonse
Energy Commissioner-designate Dan Jørgensen has secured the clear approval of the EU Parliament. At his hearing, he declared lower energy prices to be his priority, but without being specific.
By Manuel Berkel
Apostolos Tzitzikostas wants to promote greater competitiveness and sustainability as Transport Commissioner. At the hearing in front of MEPs, he made clear that the end of the combustion engine is here to stay: "We cannot let up here."
By Markus Grabitz
The Commissioner-designate for Trade secured the support of Parliament with a confident appearance. In the coming years, he intends to defend the interests of the European economy, in particular through the use of trade defense instruments.
By Marc Winkelmann
The Commission accuses the German government of wanting to soften the new debt rules. In a rare display of unity, the traffic lights coalition is arguing that the austerity requirements from Brussels are unnecessarily strict.
By Till Hoppe
The hearings for the Commissioners-designate start next week. In addition to the procedure, we explain which candidates could face difficulties and where the points of contention lie.
By Lukas Knigge
The EU is not sufficiently prepared for multiple crises, states Finnish former President Sauli Niinistö in his report to Ursula von der Leyen. He presents recommendations on how the deficits could be remedied. And it's not just funding that is likely to be the subject of discussion.
By Stephan Israel
Foreign Affairs Commissioner Borrell urges Belgrade to adopt European foreign policy – otherwise, Serbia would jeopardize its future EU membership. In its enlargement report, the Commission diagnoses real progress in only a few countries.
By Till Hoppe
It is not only the elections in the EU accession candidates Moldova and Georgia that are under suspicion of vote rigging. There are also indications of vote buying and controlled voting in EU member state Bulgaria.
By Frank Stier
