The hearings start on 29 September and continue until 7 October. For the detailed schedule, click here.
The process
Before the hearing candidate commissioners provide answers to written questions from MEPs. The answers to these questions can be found on this page, by clicking on the name of the commissioner.
At the start of the hearing the candidate can make a speech of a maximum of 15 minutes, followed by a question and answer session. The three-hour hearings are organised by the EP committees dealing wit the candidates' portfolio with the aim of assessing their general competences, European commitment and specific expertise related to the portfolio.
The EP has the final say
The EP plenary has to approve the Commission as a whole before it is able to start its work. However, in the past it has happened that a negative assessment in the hearings led to candidates being withdrawn and portfolios being reshuffled.
How to follow the hearings
All hearings will be streamed live on the EP website. For the live broadcast click here.
Use the #EPhearings2014 hashtag on Twitter to comment or find reactions.
Find out what the hearings' hottest topics are on our Twitter dashboard.
Read our summary of the hearings on our Storify page with quotes, photos, videos and background information.
Find more information on the candidates and the process on our dedicated hearings website.
REF. : 20140925STO70401
