04/10/2019
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HOSTS TOTAL OF 19 HEARINGS WITH COMMISSIONERS-DESIGNATE
The European Parliament hosted a total of 19 hearings with Commissioners-designate this week, taking up the entirety of MEPs’ agendas. The hearings, which are part of the standard appointment process of the European Commission’s College of Commissioners, were hosted by those parliamentary committees specialised on the subjects relevant to the respective Commissioners-designates’ portfolios. Most Commissioners-designate came out successful of the three-hour grilling, securing the approval of at least two-third of MEPs sitting in the respective committees. Hearings will continue over the course of next week, with the three candidates to become Executive Vice-Presidents scheduled for Tuesday.
PARLIAMENT NOT CONVINCED BY POLISH, SWEDISH & FRENCH COMMISSIONERS-DESIGNATE
Of the 19 Commissioners-designate who attended the hearings held at the European Parliament this week, only Janusz Wojciechowski (Commissioner-designate for Agriculture), Ylva Johansson (Home Affairs) and Sylvie Goulard (Internal Market) failed to secure the two-thirds majority approval from MEPs. As a result, the candidates from Poland, Sweden and France, respectively, will now be asked to provide additional information through further written questions. If MEPs are still dissatisfied, they may request a resumed hearing, which would have to take place before 17 October, before a vote on the Commission as a whole is held on 23 October.
HUNGARY & ROMANIA REPLACE CANDIDATES FOR NEXT COMMISSION
Following the European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee (LIBE) rejection of the Hungarian and Romanian Commissioners-designate due to conflicts of financial interests last week, the governments of Budapest and Bucharest put forward alternative candidates. László Trócsányi and Rovana Plumb were replaced by Olivér Várhelyi and Dan Nica, respectively. Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen will now have to decide whether to leave the allocation of portfolios as it is (with Hungary’s candidate holding the Enlargement portfolio and Romania’s being in charge of Transport) or whether to make any changes (i.e. swap them around), before the new Commissioner-designates attend their hearing in the European Parliament.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LUKEWARM TOWARDS UK BREXIT PROPOSALS
The UK government presented the European Commission with a new Brexit proposal that would see Northern Ireland part of the European single market for goods but leave the customs union. In a statement following the Exchange of views between Michel Barnier and the Members of the Parliament Brexit Steering group, the Members concluded that the proposals form a basis of a potential agreement, but a lot remains to be resolved. This includes the all-island economy, full respect of the Good Friday Agreement and the integrity of the Single Market. The negotiations are due to continue in coming days and weeks.
NEW ECO-DESIGN MEASURES FOR HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS WILL ENSURE EASIER REPARABILITY
The Commission adopted new eco-design measures for refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers and televisions. Manufacturers of certain household appliances will be required to make available spare parts in order to ensure better product reparability. The aim is to reduce the number of products to be replaced, allowing consumers to continue use of their own appliances. According to the Commission, the measures should save the EU households on average EUR 150 per year and contribute to significant energy savings. The texts will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union in the coming weeks and will enter into force 20 days later.
COMING UP NEXT WEEK:
Karl Isaksson, Managing Partner Brussels, Kreab