Commissioner-designates haven’t yet landed their coveted posts, but they are already clocking up overtime hours. MEPs quizzed Antonio Tajani, the Italian who wants to head European business, and Maroš Šefčovič, the Slovak who could be responsible for ensu

Would-be Commissioners on late-night grill

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Overtime for two   Commissioner-designates.

On Monday evening   MEPs held interviews until 9pm.

Antonio Tajani and Maroš Šefčovič   were the candidates in the spotlight.

Šefčovič wants to lead interinstitutional   relations and administration.

He came under fire for views   expressed about the Roma minority

I want to ask you about an issue   that has been raised recently

concerning remarks made by you in   2005. You said and I cite,

'I consider the Slovakian Roma citizens   as exploiters of the welfare system.'

consists of six words attributed to me,   was clearly taken out of context.

And if I offended anybody, unintentionally,   I would definitely apologise.

It wouldn't be honest of me to tell you that   I know exactly what I said five years ago.

An explanation that seems   to have convinced MEPs.

Application of the Lisbon treaty and a   single seat for the EP were also raised.

The Italian Antonio Tajani hopes to land   the industry and entrepreneurship post.

Given the economic crisis,   MEPs were keen to question him.

I ask you to confirm what you were saying   at the beginning about this new vision

and if it's right to talk about a horizontal   approach to industrial policies,

meaning that we don't take   a piecemeal approach

but that we introduce a range of   instruments based on a European view.

Today's Europe can't continue with   the same industrial policy

given the crisis   and environmental considerations

MEPs also focused on global warming,   and green technology.

What will you do to ensure that in the   Lisbon agenda, the Europe 2020 agenda,

we have a clear indicator on   resource productivity

and to ensure that resource   productivity in the European Union

The hearings for the candidates   will end this week.

Political groups will pass verdict on   Thursday after intense negotiations.