On 29 September 2014, Cecilia Malmström, Member designate of the EC in charge of Trade, was heard by the Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament to test her general competences, European commitment and specific expertise related to her portfolio. Cecilia Malmström had the opportunity to make an opening statement, she took part to a question and answer session and made a closing statement. Although the Parliament can only vote on the Commission as a whole, a negative assessment of one of the candidates has in the past already led to the candidacy being withdrawn and replaced. In her previous functions, Cecilia Malmström was a Member of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2006 sitting in the ALDE Group, then Minister for European Affairs from 2006 to 2010. In the outgoing Commission, she was in charge of Home Affairs.

Brussels

statement

Committee on International Trade

MALMSTRÖM, Cecilia (ALDE, SE, EC)

hearing

2014 Commissioners' hearings (T)

hearing of Cecilia MALMSTRÖM (T)

Hearing of Cecilia MALMSTRÖM (Sweden), Commissioner-designate for Trade: extracts from the statement by Cecilia MALMSTRÖM

Arrival of Cecilia MALMSTR&Ouml;M, Commissioner-designate for Trade, talking Bernd LANGE (S&amp;D, DE), Chairman of the Committee on International Trade (INTA), atmosphere  (3 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&#214;M, Commissioner-designate for Trade, "Trade also clearly shows the added value of Europe working together. Fighting for democratic freedom, transparency, accountability, has been the corner stone in my political engagement. In this parliament, in the Council and in the European Commission and I would like to bring that commitment to trade policy. A trade policy inspired by democratic values would simply have a goal: to improve peoples' quality of life".

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&#214;M, Commissioner-designate for Trade, "If confirmed as Trade Commissioner , I will assess all the EU's current and future actions using the following principles: first, trade policy must be driven by the interest of citizens."

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&#214;M, Commissioner-designate for Trade, "Second, trade negotiations must be open and transparent to allow all interested people and groups to understand what is on the table so that they can express their views."

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&#214;M, Commissioner-designate for Trade, "Third, trade policy is about cooperation, but also about backbone. I will make sure that Europe stands up for its interest in trade negotiations. That means assuring trade agreements support rather than weakens protection for environment, labour rights and human rights in general."

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&#214;M, Commissioner-designate for Trade, "Fourth, trade is a powerful foreign policy tool; It must support Europe's wider international goals, promoting our values, peace, freedom, democracy throughout the world."

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&#214;M, Commissioner-designate for Trade, "TTIP has a potential, a significant potential, to create lots of growth and jobs. To seize it we need an ambitious agreement on tariffs, services, procurement and to come to a a number of practical regulatory solutions. We need to to get the deal right, so substance must prevail over timing."

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&#214;M, Commissioner-designate for Trade, "And let me first make a more general statement on the question of investor to state dispute settlement, ISDS. As you know, we have several thousand in the world already since a long time. It is in my view possible to design a system in a way that it addresses peoples' concern. We must continue to set unambiguous rules to avoid abuses of ISDS that many worry about. To bring full transparency into the system. And most importantly to ensure that ISDS cannot be used to inhibit the right to regulate the public interest."

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&#214;M, Commissioner-designate for Trade, "We must demonstrate that we are not negotiating a secret deal behind the public's back. The Commission has made considerable efforts here, but I will insist that more is done if you put your trust in me. I will ensure greater transparency on the EU proposals in the different areas of the TTIP negotiation. And I will as President JUNCKER has asked publish lists of my meetings with stakeholders."