This WEEK in the European Union
VALENTINA POP
08.01.2010 @ 16:02 CET
EUOBSERVER / WEEKLY AGENDA (11-17 January) - A week of parliamentary hearings of commissioner designates kicks off in Brussels, with foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton among the first to face the three-hour long grilling awaiting each of the 26 candidates.
On Monday (11 January), in parallel to Ms Ashton's hearing in the foreign affairs committee, Polish designate Janusz Lewandowski - in the running for the budget portfolio - will face MEPs from two relevant committees.
Microphones in the EU Parliament are ready for the commissioner hearings. (Photo: EUobserver)
The next duo facing separate hearings later that afternoon are two veterans of the commission: the Finn, Olli Rehn, who will switch from enlargement to economic and monetary affairs and Andris Piebalgs from Latvia, who is currently energy commissioner and will be in charge of development.
Tuesday and Thursday are full days with six hearings each, starting at 9 am and ending at 19.30 and with as many as three committees participating in one grilling – for instance for Luxembourg's Vivianne Reding who will switch from telecoms to justice, fundamental rights and citizenship.
The hearings are open to the public and will examine the nominees' competence and specific knowledge of the field they will be covering as commissioner. "European commitment", independence and communication skills are further criteria that will be assessed by MEPs.
Their written conclusions will be sent to the leadership of the Parliament who could discuss possible requests for changes in portfolios or in the composition of the team. In 2004, pressure from Parliament before its final vote led to two changes in the line-up of commissioners and one change of portfolio.
A veto is only possible in the final vote on the entire commission scheduled for 26 January, not on individual members.
Unemployment in the metallurgy, engineering and technologies sector, another area severely hit by the economic crisis in most member states, will be the focus of a new social dialogue committee to be launched on Thursday by the EU commission.
The body is consultative and brings together employers and workers from the respective sectors. Since 1998, the EU executive has created 37 such social dialogue committees. These have adopted over 300 texts such as codes of conduct and guidelines.
Meanwhile, Spain, as the current EU presidency, is hosting a two-day informal meeting of European affairs ministers in Segovia from 12-14 January. The bloc's energy ministers will also be invited for a long week-end in Seville (14-17 January) for a similar informal get together.
Croatia, in line to join the EU, will on Monday be digesting the results of the final round of the presidential elections taking place the day before (10 January). Voters will choose between Ivo Josipovic, supported by the opposition social democrats, and Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic. Recent polls have put Mr Josipovic in the lead.
European artists who have succeeded in reaching an audience and becoming successful outside their own country will on Thursday receive the "European border breakers award", given by the EU commission and the European broadcasting union.
