The parliamentary hearings of the incoming Juncker-Commission and the political power struggles.

Nguyen Hoai-Thu is a researcher at Maastricht University. She is writing her thesis on the role of the European Parliament for democratic legitimacy in a two-speed Europe.

On 10^th September 2014 the President-elect of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker – who for the first time was elected in a Spitzenkandidat procedure following article 17(7) TEU –, announced  the composition of his new Commission. Between 29^th September and 7^th October the 27 Commissioners-designate faced hearings in front of the EP committees responsible for the portfolio assigned to them. These confirmation hearings are an opportunity for the European Parliament to influence the composition of the new College of Commissioners by refusing to endorse controversial candidates and to exert political power over the Commission: Ten years ago, the EP forced out the Italian and Latvian Commission candidates. Five years ago, it rejected the Bulgarian nominee.

This time, it was Slovenian candidate Alenka Bratušek who fell through, being one out of the seven Commissioners-designate not directly approved after the parliamentary hearings. The designate for the Energy Union was rejected due to what was reportedly the poorest performance of all designates as well as for nominating herself in her home country. Other controversial candidates included British Jonathan Hill, Hungarian Tibor Navrasics (who was approved as Commissioner but rejected for his designated Education, Culture, Youth and Citizenship portfolio), French Pierre Moscovici and Spanish Miguel Arias Cañete.

But unlike Moscovici and Cañete, Bratušek was not part of the grand coalition between the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and the European People’s Party (EPP). As reported by EurActiv and EUobserver, the two biggest political groups in the EP struck a deal according to which the S&D would support Spanish Cañete as the next Commissioner for Climate and Energy in exchange for the EPP’S support for French Moscovici (designate for Economic and Monetary Affairs). Cañete, who was considered one of the most controversial Commissioners-designate, was in particular criticized for his links with the oil industry as well as for having made a sexist remark during the EP election campaigns. Despite an online petition with over half a million signatures calling for Cañete’s rejection, his parliamentary approval was made subject to the condition that sustainability was added to future Commission Vice-President Frans Timmerman’s portfolio.

Bratušek, on the other hand, belonged to the smaller Liberal group, meaning that her rejection would not affect the political balance between S&D and EPP. After Bratušek was rejected, both the S&D and the EPP – again working as a grand coalition – backed Socialist MEP Tanja Fajon as her replacement. This time, however, they had to concede to Slovenian PM Cerar. Pointing out that it was for his government and not for the EP to decide on the candidate, he nominated Violeta Bulc, who entered into politics merely a few weeks ago, as the Slovenian substitute designate. Pending the timely approval of both the Council and the EP, the new (re-shuffled) Juncker Commission is to take office on 1^st November.

Overall, the confirmation hearings of the incoming Juncker Commission were a highly political matter and characterized by a power struggle between the Member States, the Commission, and the Parliament, and the different political groups within the EP itself.