hearing

The European Parliament has just finished the hearing of the candidates for European Commissioner, but we do not know the results yet. So how did they do and what happens next? For Slovakian STVR commented Žiga Faktor, Deputy Director and Head of EUROPEUM's Brussels office.

The Czech candidate for EU Commissioner Jozef Síkela succeeded in the so-called grilling before MEPs, which every nominated member of the EU executive must pass. He has won the support of a two-thirds majority of DEVE to become Commissioner for International Partnerships. The former trade and industry minister wants to strengthen partnerships with Africa and Latin America and intends to tackle the drivers of illegal migration. Viktor Daněk, deputy director at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for ČT24.

Are you interested in how Jozef Síkela will stand up to MEPs and how he will respond to their questions? Do you want to know how the "grilling" process, or confirmation hearings of candidates before committees, works? Come to the live stream directly from Brussels and listen to our guests' commentary!

MEPs often complain that the media do not give their work the attention it deserves. Yet now, when they are 'grilling' the various candidates for European Commissioner and have the opportunity to reject some of them, they have timed these hearings to clash with the election of the US President. Žiga Faktor, deputy director and head of the EUROPEUM Institute's Brussels office, commented for Hospodářské noviny.

Jozef Síkela made a good impression at the hearing for the post of EU Commissioner for International Partnerships and Global Gateway in Brussels. MEPs and experts gave him a positive assessment. Zuzana Krulichová, researcher at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for iDnes.cz.

Monday's „grilling“ by MEPs of Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Greece's candidate for European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, showed that the European car industry will not get support from him to postpone the emission targets for next year. Tzitzikostas also wants to maintain the line of banning the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles from 2035. Filip Křenek, project coordinator and analyst at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Ekonomický deník.