Strasbourg, 17/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 17 December, the conference of presidents of the political groups of the European Parliament confirmed the timetable for hearings of future commissioners. No changes have been made to the order in which candidates give their hearing (EUROPE 10041), and a decision has been reached in the debate on the three committees to be selected as “leading committee”.
Michel Barnier, Commissioner-designate for the internal market and financial services, said the internal market committee and consumer protection and the committee on economic and monetary affairs would both be “leaders” and organise the hearing together. The legal affairs committee is associated. On the subject of Viviane Reding, who is to hold the portfolio on justice, fundamental rights and citizenship, up to three committees will be jointly responsible. These are the committee on legal affairs, the committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs, and the committee on women's rights and gender equality. Their members may therefore question the candidate on the various matters for which they are competent. Furthermore, the committees hitherto envisaged for taking part in the hearing will finally not do so (EMPL, IMCO, CULT and PETI). Finally, Algirdas Šemeta (taxation and customs union, audit and anti-fraud) will be heard before the committee on budgetary control designated as principally relevant. The committee on economic and monetary affairs and the committee on the internal market and consumer protection will be associated. (A.B./transl.jl)