[European Commission 2014 – 2019 – Parliamentary Hearings, September – October 2014]: ‘This time it’s different’ – Parliamentary hearings 2014

Before the European Commissioners-designate as presented by incoming Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on the 10 September 2014 could take office and start work, Members of the European Parliament exercised their power of democratic scrutiny enshrined in the Treaty by holding hearings to quiz the 27 candidates on their skills and their qualifications for the posts proposed to them.

These hearings, took place from 29 September 2014 - 7 October 2014. The candidates were heard by the parliamentary committee(s) active in their proposed fields of responsibility.

The European Parliament was set to vote on whether or not to approve the full Commission on 22 October 2014. This would allow the new Commission to start work on 1 November 2014.

• Primary Source

European Parliament: New Commission: Hearings http://www.elections2014.eu/en/new-commission/hearings

ESO: Background information: The Juncker Commission: A strong and experienced team standing for change http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-the-juncker-commission-a-strong-and-experienced-team-standing-for-change/

European Parliament: New Commission: Portfolios and Candidates http://www.elections2014.eu/en/new-commission

EurActiv, 17.09.14: Commissioners-designate face parliamentary grilling: the draft agenda http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/commissioners-designate-face-parliamentary-grilling-draft-agenda-308515

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 17.09.14: Infographic: How the European Commission will get elected http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140916STO63701/

EP: EPRS: Briefing, 18.09.14: Parliamentary hearings of the Commissioners-designate. A decisive step in the investiture process http://www.europarl.europa.eu/EPRS/538919-Parliamentary-hearings-FINAL.pdf

EP: EPRS: Blog, 24.09.14: #EPHearings2014: Meet the Commissioners-designate! http://epthinktank.eu/2014/09/24/commissioner_hearings/

EurActiv, 23.09.14: MEPs load their guns for EU commissioner hearings http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/meps-load-their-guns-eu-commissioner-hearings-308638

EUObserver, 25.09.14: MEPs prepare 'lively' hearings for new commissioners http://euobserver.com/institutional/125742

ESO: Background information: Schulz walks careful line on politics of EP commissioner hearings http://www.europeansources.info/record/schulz-walks-careful-line-on-politics-of-ep-commissioner-hearings/

EurActiv, 26.09.14: Parliament rolls out social MEP-edia http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/parliament-rolls-out-social-mep-edia-308733

EUObserver: Tag: EU Elections and Hearings http://euobserver.com/eu-elections

Blog: Open Europe, 26.09.14: European Parliament hearings of Commission nominees: Will MEPs claim any notable scalps? http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/european-parliament-hearings-of.html

EurActiv, 29.09.14: Make or break week begins for the Juncker Commission http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/make-or-break-week-begins-juncker-commission-308760

EUObserver, 29.09.14: New commissioners file written replies ahead of EU hearings http://euobserver.com/institutional/125786

EurActiv: Tag: Live: public hearings of Commissioners-designate http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/live-public-hearings-commissioners-designate-308769

BBC News, 30.09.14: New EU commissioners face MEP grilling in Brussels http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29407451

ESO: Background information: Find all information in ESO on this topic http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=european%20hearings%202019%20&searchOption=all

Deutsche Welle, 03.10.14: New EU commissioners get grilled http://dw.de/p/1DPEr

EurActiv, 03.10.14: Parliament takes one third of the Juncker team hostage http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/parliament-takes-one-third-juncker-team-hostage-308907

EUObserver, 03.10.14: MEPs ask wobbly commissioners near-impossible questions http://euobserver.com/institutional/125884

EUObserver, 03.10.14: Role of commission vice-presidents unclear after week of hearings http://euobserver.com/political/125885

EUObserver, 06.10.14: Three at-risk commissioners try to win over MEPs http://euobserver.com/political/125908

Blog: Open Europe, 03.10.14: Juncker bitten by the hand that fed him as the European Parliament undermines his Commission http://www.openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/juncker-bitten-by-hand-that-fed-him-as.html

EurActiv, 09.10.14: Small parties fume at backroom deals over Juncker team http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/small-parties-fume-backroom-deals-over-juncker-team-309051

EurActiv, 07.10.14: Parliament leaves Juncker no choice but to reshuffle his team http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/parliament-leaves-juncker-no-choice-re-shuffle-his-team-308965

ECFR: Commentary, 03.10.14: Juncker’s Commission is crumbling http://www.ecfr.eu/content/entry/commentary_junckers_commission_is_crumbling326

Blog: EP: EPRS, 20.10.14: Šefčovič and Bulc: Additional hearings of Commissioners-designate http://epthinktank.eu/2014/10/20/sefcovic-and-bulc-additional-hearings-of-commissioners-designate/

---