New hearings
Two of the portfolios had to be reassigned after Slovenia's Alenka Bratušek, who had been proposed for the energy union portfolio, withdrew her candidacy. Maroš Šefčovič could now become the vice-president responsible for energy, while Violeta Bulc is the new Slovenian candiate who could take up the transport portfolio.
Both of them will be questioned by the parliamentary committees responsible for their proposed portfolios in Strasbourg on 20 October from 19.00 CET. Šefčovič will face the environment and energy committees, Bulc the transport committee.
The hearings will be shown live on our website.
Before taking up office, all candidate commissioners have to go through a three-hour-long hearing in the EP, so that MEPs can assess their competence and expertise linked to their respective portfolios. The hearings are then evaulated by the committees and the Conference of Presidents, consisting of EP President Martin Schulz and the leaders of the political groups.
Following the hearings online online
Find our coverage of the hearings on our special page, along with videos, comments and background information.
You can also follow the reactions from the political groups on the hearings online. To do this, just click on the name of the group: EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, GUE/NGL, Greens/EFA.
Search with the #EPhearings2014 hashtag on Twitter for comments and reactions. Find out what the hearings' hottest topics are on our Twitter dashboard.
The new European Commission
A plenary debate is scheduled for Wednesday 22 October when president-elect Jean-Claude Juncker will present the new European Commission and its work programme. On the same day MEPs are also expected to vote on whether to approve or reject the new European Commission.
If elected, the new college will enter office on 1 November for a five-year term.
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