Replacement commissioners to be grilled by MEPs

Three of the four replacements for commissioners who have left to join the Parliament are unlikely to stay beyond October.

European Parliament committees will on Monday (14 July) hold confirmation hearings in Strasbourg for the four people nominated to take the place of European Commissioners who have joined the European Parliament.

Following the hearings, the committees will submit evaluation letters to the full Parliament with their recommendation. On Thursday (17 July) the full Parliament will vote on whether or not to approve the four replacements. If they are approved, they are expected to take up their duties right away.

The budget committee will interrogate Jacek Dominik, the Pole nominated to replace Janusz Lewandowski, who was European commissioner for the budget, at 6.30pm. Dominik is only expected to be Commissioner for a few months, as the Polish government is expected to nominate someone else for the next term starting in November.

Martine Reicherts, the Luxemburger nominated to replace Viviane Reding, the outgoing justice and fundamental rights commissioner, will be grilled by three different committees – legal affairs, women’s rights and civil liberties. That hearing will take place at 7pm. Reicherts is also not expected to serve past the current mandate.

Ferdinando Nelli Feroci, the Italian named to replace Antonio Tajani, the former commissioner for industry, will speak to the Parliament’s industry committee at 8:30pm. He is also not expected to stay beyond the current mandate.

The other commissioner to have headed to the Parliament is Olli Rehn, who was commissioner for economic and monetary affairs and the euro. Finland’s government nominated former prime minister Jyrki Katainen as Rehn’s replacement. Rehn was on Tuesday elected as a vice-president of the Parliament.

Katainen will be grilled by the economic committee at 9.30pm. Unlike the others, Katainen is expected to stay on at the Commission for the next term.