On 7 October 2014, Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President designate of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, was heard by the European Parliament for a hearing to test his general competences, European commitment and specific expertise related to his portfolio. Frans Timmermans had the opportunity to make an opening statement and took part in a question and answer session.

Brussels

statement

TIMMERMANS, Frans (NL, EC)

hearing

2014 Commissioners' hearings (T)

hearing of Frans TIMMERMANS 2014 (T)

Hearing of Frans TIMMERMANS, Frans TIMMERMANS (The Netherlands), Commissioner-designate for Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights: extracts from the statement by Frans TIMMERMANS

Atmospheric shots before the Hearing starts, (4 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, Commissioner-designate and first Vice-President, "If confirmed this will be the first Commission truly and entirely born in the European Parliament. We will see the start of 5 years of cooperation, partnership and real political dialogue."

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, Commissioner-designate and first Vice-President, "Europe is and will be put to the test as a result of global, political, economic and social challenges. It is our duty as politicians and public servants to make sure that the instruments are constituent European citizens have put in our trust a use better to fore fill their expectation. If confirmed by you I will use my energy, my experience and conviction to support President-elect Juncker in making a success his agenda of job, growth, fairness and democratic change."

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, Commissioner-designate and first Vice-President, "Within a year from now I would present a better regulation review and by the end of next year I hope to conclude inter-institutional agreement on better law making that will hopefully align and re-enforce our efforts to better serve Europe's interest. If we get this right I'm convinced with get a thorough debate, a multi-annual programming of our institutions that gives meaning to article 17 of the Treaty. If confirmed I will improve the Commissions impact assessment's system and will encourage the Council to follow the European Parliaments lead in making sure the impact of proposals is not only assessed by the Commission, not only at the beginning of the legislative procedures, it is essential that the impact of changes to draft legislation is also taken into account."

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, Commissioner-designate and first Vice-President, "I believe Commissioners should engage more directly in dialogues with National Parliaments in such cases. If confirmed I see it as part of my role to encourage colleagues to take the discussion directly to National Parliaments and listen to remarks and provide justified replies. The results of these debates should also be shared with the European Parliament. A better shared understanding among us all of the real political meaning of subsidiarity will help the Commission to avoid unnecessary proposals and help us find the best form of intervention when action is necessary to reach goals that can only be obtained by common approach."

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, Commissioner-designate and first Vice-President, "I will work closely with all National, European and international organisations dedicated to the promotion and protection of Fundamental Rights. The success of one is the success of all; since we all serve the promotion of the same Fundamental rights. Here there is really scope for improvement of our mutual cooperation and an urgent need for greater political engagement as this Parliament has also stressed, to that end I will organise an annual Colloquium on the state of paly of Fundamental Rights in Europe with full participation of all relevant institutions."

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, Commissioner-designate and first Vice-President, "The change the Juncker Commission proposes is essential if we are to return to jobs, growth and fairness to Europe. If we are to succeed we need just your support but your full engagement. This task might seem daunting and at times we might lose hart but one look at the unthinkable challenges, our grand-parents and parents overcame, and we know that Europe seem far worse and still survived and prospered. We owe it to those who this unique construction to innovate, adapt, modernise and improve it, to make sure their legacy is confined to the history books but is relevant today and tomorrow."