Newly composed European Commission to begin work no earlier than December

Hearings on the nominations of commissioners for the new lineup of the European Union’s executive arm – the European Commission (EC) – will take place on Nov. 4-12, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced.

“With a mandate given by European citizens, MEPs [members of the European parliament] will ask, assess, scrutinize and vote,” she said.

Due to the November hearing dates, European Pravda reported, “the new European Commission will not begin its work until early December…If the European Parliament rejects several commissioner nominations, this timeline could shift to January.” 

EC President Ursula von der Leyen presented the new lineup of the EU’s highest executive body on Sept. 17. Pro-Ukrainian politicians are set to hold key positions. In addition to the president, the Commission includes 27 members – six vice presidents and 20 commissioners.

Previously, Zenon Kowal, a member of the Ukrainian World Congress Executive Committee, political adviser to the European Congress of Ukrainians and the Association of Ukrainians in Belgium, as well as former special adviser to the Embassy of Ukraine in Belgium (1992-1995), provided insights to the UWC regarding the anticipated appointments and potential implications for Ukraine.