Hearings live blog: Fitto, Kallas, Mînzatu, Séjourné, Ribera and Virkkunen

Today marks the final day of commissioner hearings — following nearly 100 hours of grilling and live-blogging last week.

On the agenda are high-profile candidates for the executive vice-presidents of the upcoming European Commission: Raffaele Fitto (Italy), Kaja Kallas (Estonia), Roxana Mînzatu (Romania), Stéphane Séjourné (France), Teresa Ribera (Spain), and Henna Virkkunen (Finland).

For today's hearings, there was a key agreement between the major groups: all their evaluations will be conducted at the end of the day as a block, rather than one by one.

If you missed last week's hearings, don't neglect to read Nikolaj Nielsen's roundup.

21:50 Ribera: We need you!

In a final effort to convince conservatives, Ribera responded to a softball question from EPP heavyweight Christian Ehler, who wanted to know how she would reassure industries unhappy with the EU’s Green Deal.

To this, Ribera answered that “everyone [needs to] feels a part of the transition.”

“Of course, dialogue needs to take place,” she added, but it should not only be at the highest level — or only top-down.

“Sector by sector, we need to find solutions,” she said, mindful of the different needs of various industries. “We need to find a common pathway together.”

21:46 Virkkunen ends by warning about Europe's 'now-or-never moment'

Speaking in English for her concluding remarks, Virkkunen said: “This is a now-or-never moment for a direction shift.”

“Technological leadership is crucial for our competitiveness,” she added, arguing that one of the main challenges facing the 27-nation bloc is “transforming Europe into an AI continent” and “a leading hub for AI innovations” where research is turned into commercial success stories.

Virkkunen remained calm and answered all questions from MEPs, leaving a positive impression in the room and pledging to collaborate with them transparently.

However, she avoided going into great depth on any questions, leading MEPs to repeat their inquiries throughout the hearing.

21:44 Ribera: How will she copy Spain’s economic success?

Reports have shown the Spanish economy is outperforming other EU countries, one MEP said, and then wondered how Ribera, as one of the politicians chiefly responsible for that outcome, was planning to apply these successes at the EU level.

“It is important to build common ground,” she said. “We have to respect what we have achieved. We cannot backtrack on what we have already assessed to be right.”

“We should not waste time on things that have been backed by science,” she added, implying that adapting the economy to the new reality of climate change would be part of that success.

“Why would we not be able to work together on this?” she asked rhetorically.

21:25 Virkkunen gets compliments on social media

"Best hearing ever! Extremely convincing - I think she is establishing a new narrative much more business-friendly and open to innovation!," said German centre-right MEP Axel Voss on X, talking about Virkkunen's hearing.

21:09 Ribera: Centre-left MEP worried about EPP shenanigans

Responding to some aggressive questioning from the EPP, Dutch MEP Mohammed Chahim from the centre-left S&D said “it seems like under the leadership of [party president] Manfred Weber [it] is headed towards a coalition with the far-right.”

If the EPP chooses not to support Ribera, Europe’s largest party has the power to reject her. However, few expect the European Parliament's largest party to do so as it would risk the straightforward appointment of their own commissioners.

But no punches are being pulled, even though it is not clear to all what exactly is being criticised.

“It is hard to distinguish EPP questions from Patriots:  full of accusations, zero substance,” said Chahim.

21:08 Virkkunen commits to implement asylum law

Virkkunen committed to the implementation of the EU asylum pact and find a new common approach to returns, which she referred to as a “missing piece” of this package.

“EU member states could take more action when it comes to returns,” she said, noting big differences among national capitals. The Finnish nominee also said the upcoming Democracy Shield would also emphasise increasing the resilience of people against foreign interference in elections.

21:03 Ribera: sounding a little bit too much on the left?

Slightly more seriously, Ribera may not put enough effort into convincing EPP members who are clearly not happy with her leftwing interpretation of the Clean Industrial Deal.

EPP MEP Liese openly questioned whether Ribera was "fit" to lead the new commission's climate, industrial, and competition efforts.

While easily fielding his question, just a few minutes later, Ribera offered a decidedly socialist perspective on her responsibilities vis-à-vis the commission's green growth agenda.

"Do you commit to making national financing conditional on supporting social and green goals? Will you claw back funding if they haven’t met these goals? Will state aid rules exclude fossil fuel companies?" she was asked.

While not making any strong commitments, her answer may not have pleased many in Liese’s centre-right party.

"Deep transformation in our industrial and energy model requires us to pay attention to workers,” she said.

“The Just Transition Fund and Social Climate Fund are both still not finalised,” she added, referring to two core Green Deal programmes whose funding is still unclear.

But “I will commit to ensuring that workers play an important role in this transition. Training and reskilling are essential, but so is creating opportunities,” she said. “This transition isn’t just about wealth creation; it’s about creating opportunities. We need to ensure that people feel ownership of this transformation."

20:56 EU commission investigating addicting algorithms

Virkkunen said the European Commission is now investigating the use by platforms of addictive algorithms, noting that a vast majority of youngsters use social media for more than seven hours per day.

“It's one part of the online platforms business logic that they try to get people to use so much time as possible on online platforms — but it's not good for our health and mental health,” she said, adding that also the content displayed on their feeds raises concerns, especially when it comes to minors.

20:47 Ribera asked: where do you stand on wolves?

“I went to this hearing open-minded, not a lot of arguments to convince my group that you are the right candidate,” veteran EPP MEP Peter Liese said. “I will give you one more chance" ... after which he asked about the situation around “farmers and wolves.”

20:28 Green MEP slams party-political gamesmanship at commissioner hearings

"What happened in the European Parliament today is a disappointing display of party-political gamesmanship that is almost impossible for citizens to understand. Instead of focusing on the professional and personal suitability of candidates, the parliament is damaging its own credibility with petty power struggles," said German Green MEP Jutta Paulus, referring to the ongoing political deals behind the hearings.

"It is dangerous that conservative and right-wing forces are exploiting the hearings for political ends, rather than working to foster trust in Europe amidst an already tense global situation... While the United States under Trump pursues withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and oil deals are being negotiated at the global climate conference, the EU must act as a beacon of reason, rather than sowing further uncertainty both within Europe and beyond," she added.

20:23 Campaigners concerned about tech deregulation

Virkkunen's hearing is raising concerns among campaigners about potential tech deregulation and the direction of the EU's digital agenda.

"Commissioner-designate Virkkunen's vision of digital sovereignty so far is coming off as an agenda for deregulation and techno-solutionism," said Ella Jakubowska, a campaigner from the digital rights watchdog EDRi.

20:20 Ribera: Climate with Trump

How will the EU lead on climate policy in a world where Donald Trump is back in the White house? We have to, Ribera said. “Whoever is in the White House, we have to look for alliances that can help us achieve our climate goals,” she said, “it has to happen. We have to do it.”

20:18 Virkkunen on investment gap and net neutrality

The commission estimates that over €200bn is required to meet the Digital Decade goals. Virkkunen noted that only 64 percent of the EU has access to high-speed networks, with much lower speeds in rural areas, which poses challenges for businesses and farmers.

However, she emphasised that EU funds are available to expedite connectivity. “It is important that the internet is available to everybody,” she said, also stressing the importance of net neutrality, where providers are expected to treat all online traffic equally, without discrimination, blocking, throttling, or prioritisation.

20:14 Ribera: Balancing competitiveness with Green Goals

Addressing the challenge of competitiveness in the automotive and other traditional industries, Ribera stated, "We need to be stable. We can’t keep saying we want to be green and then backtrack. Once we set the target and understand how to reach it, we’ll develop the pathway and follow through."

She emphasized the need for a deeper conversation on balancing economic growth with environmental goals, highlighting the importance of focusing on the impact for workers. "It’s not just about main growth figures; we need to consider what this transition will mean for everyone involved."

20:11 Semiconductor ecosystems

Beyond monitoring what has been done up until now in the field of semiconductors, Virkkunen also said the EU needed to go further with the Chips Act to strengthen and boost this crucial sector, especially when it comes to the design and manufacturing of chips in the EU, and also working towards the creation of semiconductors ecosystems for very advanced ships.

20:07 The quote

“An ‘Act’ is not the answer to everything,” Virkkunen told MEPs, referring to all legislative packages the EU has been putting forward in the field of tech policies such as the AI Act, the Chips Act, the Digital Service Act or the Digital Market Act.

19:58 Take it seriously when it comes to critical infrastructure

In response to a question about whether Europe should ban Chinese equipment in critical infrastructure, Virkkunen noted that 42 percent of Europeans using 5G have their communications transmitted via radio equipment from high-risk vendors.

“This is something where we have to take more actions because I think the member states, they haven't been taking this seriously enough,” she told MEPs.

19:51 Tech sovereignty remains a challenge

Virkkunen is repeating herself. While she acknowledges dependencies, the need for increased investment, and the importance of cutting red tape, she remains vague on concrete measures to enhance Europe’s tech sovereignty.

She advocates for open source, greater competitiveness with less bureaucracy, and making Europe a hub for innovation for cloud, quantum and AI. The question remains: how? The hearing makes clear that there are no easy answers.

19:50 Ribera: Bringing social and ecological justice into the mix

The data is terrifying, she continued explaining Anja Arndt, who is a MEP from Alternative for Germany (AfD).

“We have passed 1.5 degrees global warning, the gulf current is near collapse, that could create very difficult circumstances for northern Europe,” she said.

The collapse of the so-called Atlantic meridional overturning circulation [AMOC] has led to deep panic among climate scientists, as it might decrease temperatures in Europe by between 10 and 30 degrees, while warming would continue in southern climes.

Ribera so far has been the only politician who has mentioned it. “We need to decarbonise. We in Europe have the capacity to do this,” she said. “But the fact is that we need to take in consideration that so much change in a short period of time will have social impacts.”

That is why “we need to combine the update of industry as well as social inequality,” she said.

19:43 Ribera: Climate denialism ‘most worrying thing’

“Only seven percent, 0.007 percent of emissions, is produced by people,” German far-right MEP Anja Arndt asked, or told, Ribera, seeking to provoke her.

“I appreciate your comment, not because I agree with you, but because it is useful to stress something that I said before, namely that the most worrying concern to me, to my children, to my grandchildren is denying the effect of climate change,” Ribera replied, “and on it’s impact on our prosperity, and on it’s impact on our economy.”

19:37 Similar situation in the defence and tech sector

Reflecting on the Draghi report, Virkkunen argued that there are “too many barriers between the member states” and that Europe is “too dependent” on certain tech sectors such as microchips and AI, where many investments are being made at the moment.

Comparing the situation in the defence and tech sector, she said Europe needs to strengthen its capacity. She said that about 80 percent of acquisitions are made outside of the EU, which means that “the security of supply or the security of our economy is not sustainable”.

“We need to have our own industry,” she said, a doing that members attest must also invest in defence procurement.

19:36 Ribera on strong ground

The strong economic performance of the Spanish economy is making Ribera’s job as a socialist covering economic policy topics easier, as some conservatives, including German MEP Markus Ferber, whose own economy is not doing so well, are questioning her credibility and approach, referring him back to growth figures that show Spain is currently a (more?)  attractive economy to invest in.

19:26 Ribera: State aid needs to be tracked and transparent

“We can help, but we can do much more than what we have done,” she said, but suggested that housing is a national and regional responsibility which the EU can only be a partner in.

Responding to questions about loosening state aid rules, she said that state aid funding and public support should be tracked in much more detail “so that we can learn.” This echoes an important and core criticism from the EU Court of Auditors who recently slammed the previous commission’s performance on this issue, saying that they “lacked even the most basic information.”

19:21 Ribera: Shows ability to balance climate and competitiveness

One of the big open questions is how far Ribera aligns with von der Leyen’s pro-business second mandate, which aims to enhance competitiveness and decarbonise simultaneously. “We want to have an economy that works,” she told MEPs.

“The clean industrial deal must remain a key objective,” she added, quickly covering all major policy elements that are expected to fall under the comprehensive legislative package, which is intended as the follow-up to the EU’s Green Deal.

Ribera’s priorities, while broadly in line with the EPP’s stance, emphasised public finance to “steer private capital” in the right direction. This approach sounds quite different, for those familiar with fiscal and monetary debates, from the standard refrain of “we need private capital because there isn’t enough public money to go around,” commonly used by von der Leyen’s allies as their go-to policy stance.

These subtle differences have previously led far-right conservatives to label Ribera as part of the “extreme left.”

In her opening remarks, Ribera also appeared far more focused on “achieving climate targets” than some of her green team colleagues, including von der Leyen’s party colleague Jessika Roswall, who will lead the EU’s environmental policy agenda. Roswall barely passed her hearing last week, leaving most MEPs underwhelmed.

19:19 Cutting red tape

If confirmed, Virkkunen said she would look into reporting obligations in tech policy to see how to cut red tape. This has been raised during the first part of the hearing by several MEPs, who argue that the EU’s heavily-bureaucratic legislation is a burden for innovation.

Responding to a liberal MEP, Virkkunen also pledged to go back to the parliament with a fitness check with the digital area to ensure MEPs are aware of what has been done to simplify rules. “I think it's also [a] good time to look that are we having too detailed regulation,” she also said, echoing concerns from industry players and main lobbyists.

19:04 Virkkunen calls for stricter protections for children online under DSA

Virkkunen says that protecting children online will be one of the main priorities of the next European Commission, especially when it comes to the implementation of the DSA. “I think we have to be also very strict here when we look at the responsibility of the online platforms,” she said, arguing that addictive algorithms that make people spend more and more time on online platforms pose a systematic risk that is addressed in EU law. “If they are aware, if online platforms are aware that the minors are using their services, then the services should be fit for minors age,” she said.

19:03 Ribera: Calls for EU disaster preparedness after Valencia flood

Ribera began her hearing by acknowledging the death and suffering of “families and victims of the floods” in Valencia, thanking those who have shown up to help “restore some sense of normalcy.” To prevent destructive environmental disasters from becoming so deadly, she warned that the EU should learn from Spain’s experiences and invest in building warning systems fit for a world where climate-related disasters are set to become more frequent.

19:02 Ribera: Immediate backlash from Spanish conservatives

Spanish ecology minister Teresa Ribera, the candidate for the next commission’s second-most powerful position — which will cover the vast policy areas of both competition and all matters related to green industrial policies — immediately faced calls on social media from the Spanish conservative party Partido Popular (PP) to be rejected by the parliament.

Ribera has been put forward by EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and is unlikely to be rejected, as most in the European People’s Party (EPP), of which PP is also a member, will follow von der Leyen. However, this nomination highlights the resistance some feel toward Ribera, who is considered too far to the left by many in Europe.

19:00 Virkkunen addresses skills problem

Virkkunen said Europe needs better regulation to attract innovation, but she said this shouldn’t be translated into more bureaucracy. This means that the permitting processes in the member states should be faster than they are now, the Finnish nominee said.

Beyond looking into how to encourage innovation across Europe, Virkunnen also said that it's important also to pay attention to skills shortages. “This is one of our main challenges in Europe,” she said, adding that Europe should also be able to attract talented people from all around the world.

18:54 Virkkunen's (very detailed) opening remarks

Switching between English and Finnish (but mostly English), Henna Virkkunen, the 52-year-old former MEP and newly-appointed European Commission executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security, and democracy, baldy stated that “Europe has enormous potential” in her opening remarks.

Virkkunen noted the EU is “far too dependent on third countries” when it comes to the tech sectors. “We have a lot of work ahead of us… our tech sovereignty depends on a strong microchip industry,” she added, calling for increased efforts to reach the EU’s 20-percent global production target.

She also pledged to launch a quantum strategy to boost the EU’s quantum computing capabilities and said her first 100 days would focus on increasing AI computing power through the AI factories initiative.

And she also promised an EU Cloud and AI Development Act to expand access to advanced AI for smaller businesses, promote data sharing, and improve access to high-quality data.“

I want Europe to become an AI continent, the best place in the world to develop trustworthy and advanced AI,” she said.

On the DSA and DMA proposals, Virkkunen stressed the need for rigorous oversight and enforcement and committed to protecting citizens, particularly children, from social media's harmful effects.

Virkkunen will also collaborate with the commissioner for democracy on the Democracy Shield initiative to protect elections from interference, disinformation, and manipulation by foreign actors like Russia and China.

The Finnish nominee also warned about the “technology leakage to countries of concern”, arguing that Europe should ensure that “the supply of critical telecom equipments is in the hands of trusted vendors.”

In her final opening address, she also addressed her responsibilities in the field of security. “The best investment right away to European security is the investing in the security of Ukraine,” Virkunnen said, arguing that Europe shoudl build “a true EU defence union” with a competitive defense industry.

17:58 Séjourné wrapping up

He repeats the usual niceties about working with MEPs to conclude the green industrial deal. He says that he acknowledges that there are highly divergent opinions among MEPs about the EU’s future, but that lawmakers have “shared responsibility”. He also vows to “champion” European competitiveness and industry. Séjourné has not always been convincing and endured plenty of Macron-bashing from French opposition MEPs. But he has survived.

Thank you for your interest in our coverage and re-join our live blog at 18:30 for the final two nominees.

17:43 Mînzatu ends: Speed up and be prepared

Mînzatu has ended. At times giving long-winded responses, she appeared mostly at ease and fielded questions on education and labour. She highlighted homelessness, artificial intelligence, mental health, youth, the fight against poverty, workers' rights, skills, disabilities, and an eagerness to engage with member states.

Several MEPs complained about the title of her portfolio, which is vast and overlaps with other EU commissioners. She also became personal, evoking her childhood and growing up in a tiny apartment in Brasov, Romania.“I slept with my mother in the same bed until I was 17, and my father in the kitchen,” she said, given the small space.

Hungarian MEPs pressed her on the student-exchange programme Erasmus and Hungary’s exclusion given outstanding rule-of-law issues. But Mînzatu stuck to the EU line, indirectly telling Hungary to clean up its act.

Her sometimes pro forma and vague responses were perhaps less convincing, with an overall message on greater ambitions on education and being prepared for the future. “The commission needs to strike a very, very delicate yet strong balance between being innovative, having strong industries, cutting red tape for SMEs, making life simpler for authorities, but also making sure that our Europeans don’t get poorer,” she said in her closing statement, which got a round of applause.

17:22 Séjourné caught in Europe's rightward turn

These hearings are also a reminder to observers of how the Parliament is noticeably more right-wing than its predecessors. Green, liberal, and socialist voices are clearly outnumbered. Meanwhile, far-right and nationalist parties appear to be much more coherent and cohesive. Whether this transfers to legislative files is unclear, but the early signs are that majorities in parliamentary committees and the plenary will also shift to the right.

17:16 Séjourné on green hydrogen

Bernd Lange, chair of the international trade committee, says that the EU’s green industry and energy transition depend on large volumes of green hydrogen imports. He asks how the EU can guarantee a sufficient supply of green hydrogen in the future. Séjourné says that the commission must continue to look at ways to reduce the EU’s dependencies on energy and raw materials supplies. He promises to come back to Lange with “a fleshed out proposal”.

17:11 Mînzatu: Gender equality

A Spanish socialist MEP who is the women’s rights committee chair asks Mînzatu how she intends to reduce gender pay gaps and monitor the implementation of the pay transparency directive. “We will have this gender dimension in all the policies that we deploy. This is my desire. This is the way to go forward,” says Mînzatu. Mînzatu says it’s important to understand why women are less present in certain sectors and jobs. As for monitoring the directive, Mînzatu gives a boiler plate response on desire to work with member states.

17:10 Séjourné: Green targets still under pressure

German far-right MEP Markus Buchheit is the latest to urge Séjourné and the new EU commission to put aside the threat of fines for companies that do not meet EU green targets. He also demands a review of the ban on combustion engines in 2035. Séjourné bats away the question, but these demands, led by right and centre-right MEPs, are clearly not going to go away.

16:50 Mînzatu: Hardship tale of tiny house

Mînzatu is asked about Romanian national media reports that she purchased a house, a historical monument, in the city centre of her home town in Brasov and then extended it without permits. Mînzatu debunks the story. “I have bought a 60 squared-metre house in which I was born, in which my family had lived as a tenant since 1974 - so 50 years ago. My mother rented this social house, 60 square meters, a house that was owned by the state during the communist regime with no paperwork,” she says.

“My mother is 90. The house was built during my mother’s time. I have, from the ministry of culture, official paperwork from 2011 and from this Monday, yesterday, attesting that the house is not a historic monument,” she says. “It was built in 1949, again, yes, we extended it because it was 60 metres [squared]. I was sleeping with my mother. I slept with my mother in the same bed until I was 17, and my father in the kitchen. We did extend it after I bought it in 2009 because that’s why we bought it,” she adds.

16:48 Séjourné and the motorists' man in Brussels

Filip Turek, a Czech MEP elected on a ticket of protecting motorists, demands a 2025 review of the EU's ban on combustion engines. The rules on car makers are too strict, he says. He accuses the commission of “ideological regulation”. Séjourné shies away from a direct answer and says that companies need to be supported to make the green transition.

16:45 Mînzatu: Hungary and Erasmus blockade

A Hungarian far-right MEP, from the Patriots for Europe Group, presses Mînzatu on the EU’s decision to exclude Hungarian universities from the Erasmus student exchange scheme over rule-of-law issues. “Europe wants its Hungarian students back on track, and for that, I am pleading with Hungary and inviting you to solve those legal issues that have shown that you are not committed to all the European values that join us together in this union,” says Mînzatu. “It is up to you, and I wish, and I hope that the Hungarian government really understands that,” she adds.

16:44 In the final hour

The pace is slowing in Séjourné’s hearing as we enter the final hour. Séjourné has a good grasp of the portfolio and, as a former MEP and leader of the liberal Renew group, knows his way around the Parliament. The French right really went after him in the early stages of the hearing, but he appears to have weathered the storm.

16:22 Séjourné on REACH reform

French socialist MEP Thomas Pellerin-Carlin asks about reform of the REACH chemicals directive. In response, Séjourné says there will be zero tolerance of carcinogens in nappies and babies' bottles. He adds that there is a long backlog of authorisation cases under the REACH directive and promises to speed up the process.

16:20 Mînzatu: Disabilities

Pál Szekeres, a wheelchair-bound Hungarian far-right MEP from the Patriots for Europe Group, asks if Mînzatu has any strategy for the employment of people with disabilities. “Do you, for example, prefer to have tax breaks or incentives rather than handouts?”, he asks. Mînzatu says the first step is to look at best practices among member states, noting that some allow people to retrain their social benefits while returning to work. “It’s important to also look at our our policies, our tools, our financing tools, and to target a bit better the needs of the people with disabilities,” she says, noting that tax benefits could also encourage uptake of jobs.

16:10 Séjourné: Procurement rules

Alice Bah Kuhnke, a Swedish green MEP, asks for a commitment for mandatory minimum social and environmental standards in public procurement rules. Séjourné gives an evasive answer, saying that simplification is the key when it comes to procurement.

16:09 Mînzatu: English dominance

A Spanish Green MEP asks how to promote multilingualism, noting there is a huge gap between English and all other languages across the EU. “Indeed, we have the ambition in the EU that our population speak at least two languages, besides their native language. And we are indeed failing a bit behind this task and this ambition,” concedes Mînzatu. Mînzatu says EU funding and policies could possibly encourage the use of technologies to enhance language learning.

16:02 Mînzatu: Include young people

Mînzatu says youth cannot be discussed in silos, noting they need to be present in discussions that impact them. “They have to be present in the discussion, as I’ve mentioned, about potential legislation on workers rights, on AI at work,” she says, as well as on mobility of work.

15:59 Séjourné's patience running out

Séjourné is getting tetchy now, after right-wing French deputy Marion Marechal Le Pen questions his legitimacy as a commission candidate, describing him as Macron’s “last man standing.” He earns applause for his response, questioning why Le Pen is getting personal rather than engaging on substance.

15:55 Séjourné: Combustion engine ban

Now Séjourné is asked whether he would consider reviewing the 2035 deadline to ban combustion engines. He says that the US and China have an advantage on electric car production. He points out that China wants to expand car production in Europe at the same time as plants in the EU are closing. “It’s not the technology that is the problem, it is how we are getting there,” he says.

15:54 Mînzatu: Brain drain/lure

The immigration issue creeps into the grilling from the far-right Patriots for Europe Group, with one of their French MEPs demanding if the EU’s talent pool to attract foreign workers is not only a brain drain on their home countries, but also a lure for others to remain on EU territory. “We have to look at the EU talent pool as one part of the whole solution that we need for a competitive labour market,” says Mînzatu.

15:52 Séjourné: SMEs' access to finance

Siegfried Muresan of the centre-right EPP asks what can be done to address the high financing costs facing European businesses and to make it easier for small firms to access finance. Séjourné says that this is a “vital” question. He says that 80 percent of European small firms rely on banks for financing, whereas in the US most access funding via the capital markets. He promises to move the EU towards this model, but without going into specifics.

15:45 Mînzatu: Job title issue keeps dogging her

The centre-right European People’s Party is also not happy with her title. “There is no education in the title of your portfolio. Have you given your opinion on that?,” says a centre-right MEP. Mînzatu pivots and says she plans to make Erasmus stronger and boost vocational educational training. “This is essential for what we’re discussing here, skills portability, ensuring we are closing the labour gap in our markets,” says Mînzatu.

15:43 Séjourné under unfriendly fire

Séjourné is facing plenty of hostile questioning from French MEPs, several of whom complain that he was not Emmanuel Macron’s first choice as commissioner nominee. Far-right MEP Sarah Knafo is the latest to stick the boot in, claiming that he won’t defend France’s interests in Europe. Séjourné is staying calm and still refusing to be drawn on French party politics, but it’s been a bumpy start.

15:36 Mînzatu tackles a pro-Russian MEP

A Bulgarian far-right MEP (Europe of Sovereign Nations Group) asks if EU funds for military and defence will drain other budgets aimed at helping European citizens. “Never,” responds Mînzatu. “Without protecting our citizens' rights. There is no European Union,” she adds.

15:35 Mînzatu: Job title and AI come up again

A French left-wing MEP complains that social rights and employment are not clearly listed in Mînzatu’s portfolio title. Mînzatu says she didn’t choose her job title, but is open to any changes. On AI, Mînzatu says she “will have to look at all potential avenues to ensure that our workers rights online are protected for our future generation of workers.”

15:33 Séjourné on industrial decline

Manon Aubry, the French leader of the Left group, says that president Macron's government has been responsible for industrial decline. Séjourné replies that there are different causes for the EU’s industrial losses, but that the commission will focus on competitiveness. He also promises to address high energy prices.

Aubry’s follow up focuses on the new free-trade agreements being signed by the EU, which are exposing EU farming and industry to social dumping and de-industrialisation. How can there be decarbonisation without a green industry, she asks? Séjourné replies that he is not opposed to international trade. He says that EU free-trade deals are being tailored to promote the bloc’s industry.

15:26 Mînzatu: AI and worker’s rights

A Dutch Green MEP says the AI Act does not regulate the use of algorithmic management at work, nor labour rights. Demands if Mînzatu will propose a policy on algorithmic management. Mînzatu wouldn’t yet commit on it.

15:21 Mînzatu: Just Transition Fund

Estonian renew liberal MEP asks how the EU’s Just Transition Fund will be used to create jobs, given moves towards climate neutrality. Although the fund doesn’t fall directly under her portfolio, Mînzatu says a core part of her mandate is skills portability. “The best value that we can offer to the quality jobs roadmap is to work with social partners,” she says.

15:18 Mînzatu: More Erasmus for vulnerable students

A conservative Italian MEP presses Mînzatu on how to make Eramsus more inclusive, including for students with mobility issues. “I was one of those potential Erasmus students who could not afford to take a scholarship because the resources were just not enough,” says Mînzatu. Mînzatu says some 17 percent of total Erasmus beneficiaries come from vulnerable backgrounds. “My ambition is to go to at least 25 percent. I would want that at least one of four Erasmus beneficiaries to come from vulnerable backgrounds,” says Mînzatu.

15:11 Mînzatu: Pension age

A French far-right MEP (from the Patriots for Europe group) asks about possible moves to increase retirement age, a hot-button issue in France, which has, in the past, seen widespread protests against French president Emmanuel Macron on the subject. “Pensions are regulated in member states, but we are living, indeed, in an ageing society with new challenges in terms of how we approach the length of our presence in the labour market,” says Mînzatu. Mînzatu says there is a gap of income between men and women in old age, where EU institutions could have an impact by looking at member states' plans to redress the balance.

15:08 Séjourné refuses bait on French politics

French far-right National Rally party MEP Virginie Joron says that she is surprised to see Séjourné in the chair, needling him for representing a party that lost French legislative elections. Joron says that the EU’s proposed ban on combustion engines will kill the car sector in Europe. Séjourné refuses to be drawn into a slanging match on French politics, but says that he won’t take any “legitimacy lessons” from Joron. He adds that he has a plan to boost electric-vehicle sales across Europe.

15:06 Mînzatu: right to disconnect?

A socialist MEP from Belgium asks Mînzatu if she would commit to the right to disconnect from work. Mînzatu says the issue is important and that she would launch a “consultation with social partners.”  Mînzatu says such issues mostly affect female workers. “This is a gender issue as well,” she says.

15:02 Séjourné: A plan to save European steel

Romanian social democrat Dan Nica asks if Séjourné will use his first 100 days to propose measures to save the steel industry, including protection measures. Séjourné says that the steel industry employs more than 300,000 Europeans. He promises that “this industry will not be allowed to die” and that measures will be applied to guard against state-subsidised low prices from China.

15:00 Mînzatu: Questions start, on mobile workers

A German centre-right MEP presses Mînzatu on labour mobility, how to promote it, and the future of the European labour authority. Mînzatu says she will strengthen the authority’s mandate, once its evaluation is completed. “For our Europe, it is clear that more and more of our mobile workers are relevant, are important, and their rights and their protection needs to be ensured,” she says.

14:57 Stéphane Séjourné shows of linguistic skills

France's Séjourné is switching between English, French, and Spanish in his opening statement. The nominee to be the EU’s 'industry and prosperity' commissioner opens by saying that the EU needs to play “economic catch up” and to improve living standards.

“We need to decarbonise and grow our industry,” he says, adding that “sectors face the ‘scissors’ effect of high energy prices and Chinese over capacity”. The electric vehicle and heat pump markets are stagnating, Séjourné says.

Most of the barriers that businesses faced 20 years ago are still there, he notes. “For the EU to be competitive we need more than just a single market ... we need a simple market," he adds. He promises “simplification, smart investment, and strategic action.”

14:55 Mînzatu: Eradicate homelessness

Mînzatu gives sobering figures. Says a quarter of the children in the EU are on the brink of poverty. Another 100 million people are living with disabilities, many of whom want to work but cannot, she says. “We have almost a million homeless people. And I will make this point to you that we can eradicate homelessness in Europe," she says.

14:51 Mînzatu: Alarming deficit of teachers

“We see an alarming deficit in the number of teachers in most member states,” says Mînzatu. Mînzatu says the EU needs more skills in key areas such as science, technology, engineering, and maths. She touts the added value of quality education and occupational training for everyone, across all EU territories. “I will look into a system that gives European recognition for vocational and educational training,” she says.

14:45 Mînzatu: Unclear portfolio

Welcome back for our coverage of this afternoon's hearings.

Romania’s 44-year old socialist Roxana Mînzatu is vying to become European Commission executive vice-president for ‘people, skills and preparedness.’ The two committees grilling Mînzatu both complain about her portfolio title, noting it doesn’t reflect her tasks on jobs and social rights. It also doesn’t mention education, they said.

Currently an MEP, Mînzatu opens her statements with a brief autobiography and Romania’s revolt against the communist regime almost exactly 37 years ago. Mînzatu says principles guiding the European project are more important than ever: democracy, rights, values, freedom of thought, opportunities, and choices.

12:37 Fitto’s over

In his final remarks, Fitto pledged to collaborate with the European Parliament and urged a rethink of Europe’s future.

“We have to look behind us, remember where we come from, so that we can build a credible perspective, and think about the message that we want to leave for our children,” he said.

12:25 'Well done Kaja Kallas'

Kallas' hearing has ended on a friendly, but slightly dull note.

"We're all starting to take Estonian language lessons now," said the chair, German centre-right MEP David McAllister. "Well done Kaja Kallas," he added, while wrapping up the meeting.

Kallas' concluding remarks were mostly clichés about working closely with the European Parliament if confirmed and about the importance of EU unity.

"We work as team Europe for the same purpose - that will be security in Europe, to deliver for our citizens a happier and better future and also to our neighbouring countries," Kallas said.

The three-hour Q&A went around the globe, with questions on Belarus, Cuba, the Arctic, the Western Balkans, space, and cyberspace, as well as Russia, China, the Middle East, and Africa. Kallas didn't seem to put a foot wrong and appeared well briefed on all the dossiers.

She didn't promise much in the way of travel, except for saying she would go to the Western Balkans. But she put in time and effort to disprove sceptics that she only cared about Russia and Ukraine, even though her firm Atlanticism and her preoccupation with European territorial integrity still shined through.

12:16 How many Fittos?

Green Croat MEP Gordan Bosanac says there are three different Fittos.

“From your today's answers, one really has to question your political integrity, because what you are telling us there is one Fito, democratic, democratic Christian. And then there is a second Fito of Fratelli D'italia. And apparently, there will be the third Fito as a potential commissioner.”

Fitto responds that there is “only one Fitto” who is committed to the guidelines of EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

"I will commit within the European Commission to continue to follow up on the proceed the process that we have undertaken, to take with the flexibility that would come from this debate," he said, arguing in favour of potential changes and flexibilities on the laws and rules already agreed during the previous legislative term.

12:08 Kallas: A 'fresh face' in Africa

Belgian right-wing MEP, who is of Burkinabè origin, Assita Kanko, urges Kallas to "take Africa seriously, not merely as a vassal of the EU".

Kallas promised a summit to "listen to African leaders, not just preach our way of life".

"I hope we have an African summit in 2025. I will do everything to make sure it takes place," she said.

Kanko also raised a laugh around the room when she called Kallas a "fresh face" of the EU in Africa, compared to her predecessors in the post, who came from ex-colonial EU nations.

But Kallas took her seriously, noting that Estonia, which shook off Russian occupation in 1991, empathised with countries' "fight for freedom".

"I'm willing to invest my time in Africa," Kallas said. "We [Estonia] don't have a past [in Africa], so I am a fresh face," she added.

Kallas also promised further EU action to stop female genital mutilation in Africa.

12:00 Fitto on housing

When asked about specific measures to improve the housing crisis in Europe by the chair of the employment committee, left-wing MEP Li Anderson, Fitto is vague.

Housing is “a very worrying issue,” Fitto said, arguing that differences in rural areas and cities deserved the commission's attention. He also committed to support a new programme worth €7-14bn as part of the EU's long-term budget to address the need for renovations and “further new measures”.

11:57 Kallas: No one knows what Trump will do

Pressed again on what the EU would do if US President-elect Trump walks away from helping Ukraine to fight Russia, Kallas downplayed the threat.

"I'm surprised to hear you know what Donald Trump is doing. I don't think that anybody really knows what is the new president elect doing [before he comes into office]," she said.

11:55 No comments on Italy-Albania deal

Fitto refuses to comment on the Italy-Albania deportation deal, stating that since his appointment as commissioner nominee, he has refrained from discussing national politics.

“I'm not someone who makes many statements, and I tried to focus really on solving problems,” Fitto told MEPs.

11:52 Fitto on responding to natural disasters

Asked about how to make sure regions like Valencia can access EU funds quickly and without major bureaucracy requirements, Fitto replies that “it's after the initial rescue phase that we need to think about how we should look at the European solidarity fund, for example, but also having flexibility with cohesion funds.”

He also added that prevention policies were needed. “When there's a natural catastrophe, we can't pretend that we don't have to deal with it”.

11:31 It's getting repetitive

After two hours of grilling, MEPs are starting to repeat themselves. Fitto is handling the questions well, managing to dodge the tricky ones about his past that could potentially hurt his chances of confirmation. He's staying calm, showing a knack for deflecting pressure.

11:30 Kallas: Russia's last colonial war?

Goaded by two pro-Russian MEPs, who claimed the EU is to blame for the war in Ukraine, Kallas quotes US historian Timothy Snyder: "Snyder said 'In order for a country to be better, it has to lose its last colonial war'. Russia hasn't lost its last colonial war yet. We have to make sure they lose it now," she said.

11:28 Kallas: Backs idea Iranian guard is 'terrorist' entity

Asked by liberal Lithuanian MEP Petras Austrevicius if the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps should be designated a "terrorist" entity by the EU, Kallas pledges her support for the move.

She cited Iran's "involvement in European countries, like Sweden, for example," referring to a recent hand-grenade attack against the Israeli embassy there.

"If confirmed, I intend to raise this issue with foreign ministers," she added.

11:26 Fitto on outermost regions

Rody Tolassy of the far-right Patriots of Europe, asks Fitto to improve access to regional funds, arguing that access to cohesion funds of outermost regions is often linked to national GDP. “That’s not appropriate,” Tolassy said, adding that he was not particularly interested in the rule of law issues raised by other MEPs.

Fitto said that resources can be specifically earmarked in a tailor-made manner for outermost regions, where special exceptions or derogations could be considered.

“I think it's important that we could should work together to try and find a general strategy on the outermost regions, particularly when it comes to exceptions,” he said.

11:12 Fitto avoids questions about direct funding for regions

Fitto avoided a question from Liberal MEP Ciaran Mullooly, who asked him if he would support funding directly to the regions and local authorities, given the “tiny” absorption rate and the problematic red tape.

“We need to be there on the ground and to really understand what is happening there,” the Italian nominee said, arguing that the commission will look into implementation and bureaucratic problems.

11:10 Kallas vows to go after EU companies profiting in Russia

Asked about future Russia sanctions, Kallas strikes a hawkish note, saying EU firms doing business with Russia ought to face restrictions (hello Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International). She also pledges to work with EU states on seizing frozen Russian central bank assets to pay for Ukraine's post-war reconstruction.

"It's our own European companies who have a big question to answer. We should ask why do these companies think it's OK for them to be really profiting from this situation in the short term, because they think it [the Ukraine war] doesn't concern me, while calling out at the same time: 'Why doesn't the war end?'," she said.

"It's not fair that our tax payers are paying for something we aren't destroying [Ukraine], so it should be Russia who pays ... I can go into the details of legal argumentation, as a lawyer myself," says Kallas.

The Russian asset-seizure "will happen sooner or later," she predicted.

10:50 Fitto’s moral lessons

After receiving criticism from a left-wing Spanish MEP about being a symbol of “neo-fascist whitewashing” but also an “incompetent when it comes to managing and implementing European funds,” Fitto remained calm, appealing for respect and receiving a round of applause.

“I don't know what your idea of a fascist is. That's up to you to decide,” he said, arguing that “respect is the foundation of any relationship” he has with people and that, if confirmed, they should sit down together to try to find some common ground.

10:48 Kallas: Silent on UNRWA

Kallas claims the EU is showing heart to Palestinians, but ducks a question of what she would do to stop Israel banning the UNRWA refugee agency and indicates she is open to working with the Israeli foreign minister.

"We are the biggest donor of the Palestinian Authority, to helping the Palestinian people in that region," she said.

"The EU doesn't recognise the violent [Israeli] settlers [in the West Bank]. We have sanctions in place for those people," she added.

"The association council should be a good place to address the issues with Israel by all 27 [EU] countries, so I hope the association council actually meets," she said.

The EU-Israel "association agreement" gives Israel preferential access to the single market, but Ireland and Spain have called for it to be suspended on human rights grounds, with EU foreign ministers to discuss the issue on 18 November.

10:47 Kallas: No EU alternative to Nato

Kallas firmly rules out the idea that the EU should have its own army alongside Nato, an idea favoured by France, Germany, and Italy. Kallas cites the importance of having a clear "chain of command" in a battlefield situation.

"If we create an alternative structure, it would be just confusing when the real conflict could be hitting our continent," she said. The former Belgian prime minister, Guy Verhofstadt, didn't like this.

10:45 Socialist MEP warns Fitto about 'very bad experience with Várhelyi'

Socialist Hungarian MEP Klára Dobrev explains to Fitto that the European Parliament has had “a very bad experience” with certain commissioners such as Hungary's Oliver Várhelyi who, she said, was the right hand of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

“He did not represent European interests, but Mr. Orban's interests,” she told to the commission nominee.

“For us, your independence, your political integrity, is extremely important,” she said.

Responding to Dobrev’s questions, Fitto pledged to be “independent” and “equally distant” to all 27 member states.

“When you are a minister of a country, you institutionally represent your country because you take an oath to your constitution. Now being a commissioner means that you represent the European Union, the European Commission, and I am here to guarantee this commitment,” he said.

10:40 Fitto emphasises simplification and flexibility

“When it comes to cohesion policy, the topic of simplification is decisive,” Fitto said. “Together with Commissioner Dombrovskis, I will be able to work individually on all of the necessary measures."

He said that there were two key issues the EU needs to address: simplification for small and medium-sized companies, and the relationship between different institutional levels, where delays and difficulties can arise.

“We want to see a strong acceleration when it comes to cohesion funds,” he added, emphasising the need to simplify procedures, streamline institutional levels, and introduce more flexibility.

10:38 Kallas: Cruising at the half-way mark

We are now half-way through her hearing and Kallas remains bright and smiling, with open body language and a candid tone. The main themes so far: to stay tough on Russia, boost the EU's military industrial complex, be empathetic but realistic in the Middle East, and to work with African countries to chill migration.

A handful of far-left and far-right MEPs have tried to needle her, but Kallas has debunked their attacks, while remaining respectful toward them on a personal level. We've had ripples of applause and friendly jokes also from several central-European, as well as French, and most women MEPs toward the candidate.

10:24 Fitto says 'no' to cohesion funds centralisation

Accusing an MEP of making “political statements” about Italy and reforms done under the EU's post-Covid Recovery and Resilience Facility plan, Fitto said that he will not back any attempts to centralise when it comes to cohesion funds.

“The aim is to give value to the roles of local authorities,” he said.

10:21 ‘Problematic’ Fitto

“Hearing with Fitto (is) very concerning,” Green MEP and co-chair Bas Eickhout says on X.

“He doesn’t want to talk about his own voting behaviour, dodges questions on Rule of Law where he was of the opinion Europe shouldn’t say anything and lukewarm on Green Deal. Problematic,” he adds.

10:10 Fitto avoids defence question

Fitto has dodged a question on defence policy after MEP Valentina Palmisano referenced media reports about using EU funds for defence, saying he won't comment on articles not backed by an official European Commission statement.

10:06 Kallas: Pushed on Israel and Rwanda

A left-wing MEP takes a sharper tone, accusing the EU of double standards, by being hard on Russia, but soft on Israel and Rwanda.

"It's heartbreaking and we have to work to stop this [attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Middle East] but we are not alone, we have to work with our allies, such as the US, to achieve results on the ground, also the Gulf countries," says Kallas.

Kallas had already met the Jordanian and Egyptian foreign ministers to speak about the conflict, she added.

Turning to Rwanda, she said "it's very difficult to see Rwandan troops in Congo", referring to accusations that Rwandan president Paul Kagame was fuelling conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Kallas mentions the use of targeted sanctions against Rwanda if needed to curb this, but also praises ongoing EU talks with Kagame to secure access to Rwandan minerals for EU mining firms. "I'm glad to see the progress [on minerals]," she said.

"We also need sustainable trade regarding critical raw materials - it's in our interest," she said.

10:05 Fitto's commitment to the rule of law under scrutiny

Slovenian Green Vladimir Prebilic said that he was “puzzled” about Fitto’s sincerity of his commitment to the European project after voting against resolutions in favour of the rule of law.

“When it comes to the rule of law issues, it can be very difficult to take statements from a political debate a few years ago,” Fitto responded to Prebilic, arguing that he has been part of the rule of law dialogue in his functions a minister for EU affairs and committing to uphold EU values if confirmed.

9:59 Kallas: Soft ride so far

Kallas seems to have the room eating out of her hand, with soft questions on protecting human rights and EU unity, especially from liberal, Green, and centre-left MEPs.

Right-wing Polish MEPs also voiced support for Kallas, on the grounds that she is the first candidate from their region for the EU foreign policy job.

"Having escaped occupation, we [Estonians] really see the value of rule of law, for our prosperity as well," she said, on the need to promote human rights in EU foreign policy.

9:48 Kallas quotes Ben-Gurion

For anyone thinking Kallas would be all Russia and no Israel, she's been doing her homework on the Middle East. In reply to a question about Palestinians' rights, Kallas quoted the 20th century founder of Zionism and former Israeli prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, saying he had pledged Israel would be founded on two principles: "security" and "justice".

9:45 Regional development trap and brain drain

Regions are trapped in a so-called "development trap,” Fitto says, arguing that the EU needs to develop mechanisms to incentivise talent in regions at risk of brain drain.

He also talked about better investment in connectivity and digitalization, better job opportunities and a development model, particularly linked to tourism, which could be a motive for the future. “We have to accept that the range of problems is very diverse,” he adds.

9:43 Kallas: Shows off her EU summit experience

Portuguese far-right MEP António Tânger Corrêa voiced sour grapes that Kallas was part of an EU mainstream which had criticised right-wing governments in Hungary and Poland. But Kallas pulled him up on a point of fact.

"Your question implied I said something bad about Poland or Hungary - it's not true," she said.

Kallas also appeals to her experience of how EU negotiations work at summit level to show that she is capable of working with difficult partners. "It's not always easy to bring everyone on board, but there's a real spirt of compromise around that [EU leaders'] table and I think we should continue with that," she said.

9:33 Kallas: Met JD Vance already

In response to her first question on how she would work with US president Donald Trump - Kallas said she has already met Trump's vice president JD Vance.

"We will seek connections, we'll seek meetings with incoming president elect and his team," she added.

She didn't mention EU fears of Trump's Russia-friendly views or his threat to impose tariffs on European exports, but did try to appeal to his transactional mentality.

"If the US is worried about what happens in the South China Sea, they should be worried how we react to Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. It's in their interest to do so," she said.

9:32 Fitto on simplification

Responding to questions in Italian, where Fitto expressed himself more confidently, he said that “simplification will be an important new development for the future work of the European Commission” and that it was crucial to discuss the future of cohesion funds.

9:30 Kallas: Keen on North Africa migration deals

In what she called "mutually beneficial partnerships", Kallas said she will work on EU migration deals with North African states.

She pays lip service to human rights concerns, but was more interested in border control. "We must protect our external borders for it [internal EU free movement] to work. We cannot be borderless both inside and out," she said.

9:29 Kallas: Tough on China

Kallas presents China as part of a new anti-Western axis together with Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

"China has changed over the past two years it is now more a competitor and systemic rival," she said. The EU needed to "derisk" its supply chain dependence on China. "China also needs to feel a high cost" for backing Russia in Ukraine, she added.

9:27 Fitto criticised on rule of law

German Green MEP Daniel Freund said on X that Fitto’s voting record in the European Parliament shows he is not “pro-EU and pro-rule-of-law”—two conditions set by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to work together with Italian PM Georgia Meloni's European Conservatives and Reformists group. 

Fitto voted against triggering a court case against the European Commission for failing to activate Rule of Law conditionality, addressing media freedom and the further deterioration of the rule of law in Poland, and holding those responsible for the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia accountable in Malta, Freund said.

9:25 Kallas: Focus on Russia and Middle East

Kallas' hearing has begun, with rhetoric on how the 47-year old former Estonian prime minister "grew up behind the Iron Curtain with no choices and no freedom", but her country later "escaped the Soviet prison". 

She says her two priorities are the " full-scale war in European continent" and Middle East "conflict raging on following heinous attacks against Israel". There must be "victory in Ukraine" she said, speaking in fluent English.

Kallas doesn't criticise Israel directly, but tries to show empathy for civilian casualties in a neutral way. "My heart goes out to every victim and their loved ones," she said.

She also called for "all parties to exercise restraint" and voiced "unwavering support for the two-state solution," amid mounting Israeli calls to annex Gaza and the West Bank.

9:14 We're underway....

Speaking in English, Fitto began his introductory remarks by recalling his three terms as an MEP in the European Parliament, where he served on the regional affairs committee.

“I am not here to represent the political party. I am not here to represent a member state. I am here today to affirm my commitment to Europe,” he told MEPs, who have previously raised concerns about Fitto’s appointment. This is the first time an executive vice-president will be in charge of cohesion and reforms.

8:40 All eyes on Fitto

Liberal Irish MEP Ciaran Mullooly said on X that he would ask Fitto "to reject [the] crazy media hype over using cohesion funds for defence spending", while Green Italian MEP Leoluca Orlando has rejected his appointment.

"We cannot allow those who hinder the European project to play a key role. This is a crucial moment," Orlando said.

8:30 Fitto and Kallas open the day

Despite opposition and concerns raised by several political groups in the European Parliament, the head of the EU executive appointed Raffaele Fitto (Italy) as a vice president with major powers overseeing the EU's regional funding. Fitto, appointed to be executive vice-president for cohesion and reforms, has served as a member of the European Parliament, representing Italy's right-wing Brothers of Italy party. Fitto's experience includes roles as minister for European affairs and minister for regional affairs in Italy and a long-standing focus on economic development, cohesion policy, and Mediterranean relations.

Estonian PM Kaja Kallas prepares to become the EU's new top diplomat, bringing extensive experience in digital innovation, cybersecurity, and a firm commitment to EU unity and support for Ukraine. Watch for her emphasis on Russia, China, and Africa, but less so on the Middle East. For more background, check out Andrew Rettman's piece, examining Kallas written responses to MEPs ahead of the hearing.