Focus on the would-be commissioners' big oral exam. What happens during these hearings, which the candidates must pass if they are to make it to the top job?

Backstage: Testing the Commissioners

Hello! That's Michel Barnier,   who wants to be a commissioner.

These MEPs are listening to him   carefully - it's like an oral test.

All commissioners have to sit   the test to get the job.

Each candidate has to attend   three hours of hearings.

Four rooms especially equipped with six   cameras to capture every second.

Litres and litres of coffee.   That's what the hearings are like.

The ushers hurry to get things ready   inbetween candidates.

We don't have much time   to prepare the room.

because we only have 30 minutes   between hearings. It's pretty tough going.

Visitors follow events behind the scenes.

The hearings system is very interesting   in the Parliament.

We think it is a very helpful and useful   experience for Chinese people.

These candidates have to show interest,   ambition and above all else ability.

The hearings test what each candidate   knows about the job they want to do.

Candidates present their political ideas.

1750 questions and almost 100 hours   spent debating the candidates' abilities.

Now it's Cecilia Malmström's turn.   She wants to head Home Affairs.

What concrete initiative will you take   to reduce immigration incentives?

One will be a directive on seasonal   workers for instance.

Then there'll be the intercorporate   directive for big companies and their staff.

Candidates prepared   like any student before a big exam.

And each one has   a personal revision technique.

When it's over everyone discusses   what happened.

Exam results: most passed with flying   colours. Two or three scraped through.

They had to answer   extra questions to get through

because MEPs make it known   when they're not satisfied.

The Parliament wasn't happy with   the Bulgarian Rumiana Jeleva

Bulgaria proposed another person,   Kristalina Georgieva who scored well.

After some thought, MEPs   approved the new Commission.

The final score wasn't bad:   488 MEPs voted in favour. That's 66%.

The holidays are over for the new   Commission. It's time to work.