17/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - The conference of presidents of the political groups at the European Parliament decided on Thursday 17 December to give shared responsibility to the committees on civil liberties (LIBE) and legal affairs (JURI) at the hearing (each 1h15, the FEMM committee entitled to half an hour) of the future commissioner for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship, Viviane Reding. The problems of rivalry between these two committee are not new but polemic has recently been reactivated by Klaus-Heiner Lehne (EPP, Germany), who currently presides the conference of chairpersons of the parliamentary committees, and who also chairs the JURI committee. In a letter addressed to the president of the Parliament, Mr Lehne recommends that JURI be the leading committee for hearing Ms Reding, to the great disappointment of those at the head of the LIBE committee. Finally, an amicable solution was found - both committees will attend the hearing on an equal footing. The hearings of commissioners by MEPs will take place from 7 to 19 February 2010. (B.C./transl.jl)