On Tuesday, 12 November, the European Parliament committees responsible for the hearings of the six European Commission executive vice-presidents-designate decided to postpone their assessment of the performances of these individuals who have been approached to sit on the ‘von der Leyen II’ Commission (see other news).
The aim of the European Parliament’s main pro-European political groups—EPP, S&D, and Renew Europe—is to reach an agreement on the outcome of these hearings in advance, each political family wishing to secure its protégé’s confirmation. Included in these negotiations is the fate of Raffaele Fitto, the candidate for commissioner nominated by Italy whom reelected President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen wishes to appoint as a vice-president of the EU institution against the wishes of the S&D, Renew Europe, and Greens/EFA groups, which supported her reelection in July.
A parliamentary source stated on Tuesday, 12 November, that the leaders of the political groups “may wish to reach an agreement in advance on joint instructions to the [political group] coordinators” in the relevant parliamentary committees.
According to Daniel Freund (Greens/EFA, German), “Under pressure from the Christian Democrats, the decisions on all vice-presidents of the European Commission have been postponed from today to tomorrow. They are expected to be voted on as a package solution.”
It will ultimately fall to the relevant parliamentary committees to take individual decisions on the six candidates in accordance with the decision-making procedures inherent in the confirmation hearings of commissioners-designate.
Olivér Várhelyi. Also postponed until this Wednesday was the outcome of the assessment of European Commissioner-designate for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi, to whom MEPs have sent additional written questions because he did not win them over during his hearing (see EUROPE 13521/3). (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)