On 30 September 2014, Johannes HAHN, Member designate of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargment Negotiations was heard by the Committee on Foreign Affairs to test his general competences, European commitment and specific expertise related to his portfolio. Johannes HAHN had the opportunity to make an opening statement, he took part in 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as a whole, a negative assessment of one of the candidates has in the past already led to the candidacy being withdrawn and replaced.

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Brussels

exchange of views

LÖSING, Sabine (GUE/NGL, DE)

hearing

HAHN, Johannes (AT, EC)

VAN BAALEN, Johannes Cornelis (ALDE, NL)

(The Earl of) DARTMOUTH, William (EFDD, UK)

BELDER, Bas (ECR, NL)

HOWITT, Richard (S&D, UK)

SARYUSZ-WOLSKI, Jacek (ECR, PL)

MESZERICS, Tamás (Greens/EFA, HU)

hearing of Johannes HAHN 2014 (T)

Hearing of Johannes HAHN (Austria), Commissioner-designate for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargment Negotiations: MEPs questions & answers

Title: Hearing of Johannes HAHN, Commissioner-designate in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations: MEPs questions &amp; answers

SOUNDBITE (English), Richard Stuart HOWITT (S&amp;D, UK), When you say quality before speed are you deliberately sending a signal to aspirant countries that there is a slowdown in this process, do you want to send that signal?

SOUNDBITE (English), Johannes HAHN, Commissioner-designate in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, I will travel to these countries at the begining of my mandate in order to make clear that we are willing continue very tough engaged and sustainable negotiations which should guide us to the final goal wich is to have accession of our friends in the Western Balkans.

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Bastiaan BELDER (EFDD, NL), <p>How would you assess the current situation of jewish and christian minorities in Turkey?</p>

SOUNDBITE (German), Johannes HAHN, Commissioner-designate in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, That is one of our concerns with Turkey. The enlargement negotiations if they are able to get to their cruising speed, then Turkey and its authorities must move in important areas and demonstrate that they are serious about minority rights.

SOUNDBITE (English), Johannes Cornelis van BAALEN (ALDE, NL), My group, ALDE, has been very strong against Russian agression in Ukraine, but Ukraine now must have a Marshall Plan for democracy, the rule of law and economic survival, please give me your Marshall plan.

SOUNDBITE (English), Johannes HAHN, Commissioner-designate in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, I think it's important to have close cooperation in terms of politics but also by helping the Ukranian government to implement all the necessary reforms. It's not always about money, it's also about assistance.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI (EPP, PL), How important it is and what do you plan to do on energy and gas independence for Ukraine's European choice and association to make that Ukraine is free to choose and has the possibility to implement without external pressure or blackmail, its association agreement?

SOUNDBITE (English), Johannes HAHN, Commissioner-designate in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, I think energy should not be a political weapon, and on the other hand we have to admit that energy demand is probably the most vulnerable element for Europe so we have to have a strong interest to diversify the different sources to get energy but also to have different kinds of energy.

SOUNDBITE (German), Sabine L&#214;SING (GUE/NGL, DE), With the crisis in Syria, in the countries people are fleeing to, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey.. there are infringements of international humanitarian law taking place, refugees are not getting their rights upheld, they are not getting access to schools for their children, so how do you intend to use the neighbourhood policy and EU delegations to bring about an improvement in their situation?

SOUNDBITE (German), Johannes HAHN, Commissioner-designate in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, <p>What we have to do is find a sustainable solution to the armed conflict there and until we do that we're going to just continue going to have to deal with this tragic refugee situation and it will remain outside of our control, we certainly will never get 100% control of it.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Tam&#225;s MESZERICS (Greens/EFA, HU), Do you think that a major re-thinking would be in order with regard to the Eastern Partnership?  

SOUNDBITE (English), Johannes HAHN, Commissioner-designate in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Our main interest should be to assist these countries, to help these countries, but once again it is up to them, up to their people to make their sovereign choices about their individual future, and as we can see countries decide individually and we have to respect it.

SOUNDBITE (English), William The Earl of DARTMOUTH (EFDD, UK), There are more journalists imprisoned in Turkey than in China and Iran, would you agree that all pre-accession assistance should be suspended until the journalists are released?

SOUNDBITE (English), Johannes HAHN, Commissioner-designate in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, It's unacceptable that anybody is jailed for reasons which are related to freedom of expression, and this is something that you can be reassured I will certainly address in my discussions with Turkey in order to find a solution.