22/09/2020 (Agence Europe) – The Commissioner-designate for Financial Services, Mairead McGuinness, and the Executive Vice-President, Valdis Dombrovskis, proposed to take over the external trade portfolio, will be heard on Friday 2 October by the Economic and Monetary Affairs (9am-12pm) and International Trade (1-4pm) committees respectively, according to the timetable agreed by the European Parliament’s Conference of Presidents of Political Groups (CoP) on Tuesday 22 September. On 5 October, the Conference of Committee Chairs will evaluate the results of the two hearings and forward its conclusions to the CoP, which may then decide to close the evaluation or request further action. Before the two hearings, the Committee on Legal Affairs will examine the declarations of financial interests of the two candidates, in order to confirm the absence of conflicts of interest with their future portfolios. In addition, candidates will have to answer the traditional written questions (see EUROPE 12563/22). The final vote is scheduled for the 7 October plenary session. (MF)