Bernd Lange, the German lawmaker who chairs the Committee Chairman’s Conference (CCC), summarized “Tuesday’s discussions” and submitted both proposals to the CoP, underscoring a clear majority at the CCC in November, two parliamentary officials with knowledge of the process said. said. , granted anonymity to speak freely.
The only force pushing for a mid-October start date is the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), the home base of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
But the EPP has been unable to gather enough support as lawmakers want to have enough time to scrutinize commissioner nominees before hearings.
“(EPP Chairman Manfred) Weber wants a hearing in October, but he is isolated and there is no majority,” said an EPP MEP, granted anonymity.
Under the current draft plan, the final deadline for the committee to send written questions to candidates is Oct. 10, with responses due by Oct. 22.
Candidates are scheduled to appear before the National Assembly Legal Affairs Committee before October 18 to be screened for potential conflicts of interest, and the Policy Committee is scheduled to investigate prospective members from November 4 to November 12.
The CCC also discussed which committees would handle which portfolios. One of the officials mentioned above said the Economic Affairs Committee, along with the Industry, Internal Market and Environment Committee, had called for participation in the hearing of Stéphane Séjourné, the nominee for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy.
