EP-President David Sassoli said: “The European Parliament is committed to guaranteeing that the process of electing the new European Commission will take place in the most democratic and transparent way possible. Commissioners-designate will now face a thorough public questioning on their skills and suitability as well as on their ability and willingness to address citizens’ concerns and deliver on the programme that President-elect Ursula von der Leyen presented to MEPs in July”.

Hearings will start on 30 September and last until 8 October:

30/9: two hearings in the afternoon

1/10: two in the morning, afternoon, and evening

2/10: two in the morning, afternoon, and evening

3/10: two in the morning, afternoon, and evening

7/10: two in the afternoon and one in the evening

8/10: hearings of Executive Vice-Presidents-designate

The detailed schedule of which Commissioner-designate will be heard by which committees and at which time slot will be decided by the Conference of Presidents at its next meeting on 19 September.

The hearings will be followed immediately by evaluation meetings by the Chair and group representatives (coordinators) of the various committees. On 15 October, the Conference of Committee Chairs will assess the outcome of all hearings and forward its conclusions to the Conference of Presidents. The latter is responsible for the final evaluation and decision to close the hearings or eventually request further actions, in its meeting on 17 October.

If additional hearings for commissioners-designate or for alternative candidates should be needed, they would take place on 14 and 15 October, followed by the evaluation by the Conference of Committee Chairs on the 16 before the final decision to close the hearings by the Conference of Presidents on 17 October.

The vote by EP Plenary on the whole Commission is scheduled in Strasbourg for the 23 October.