David SASSOLI, EP President, gives a press conference on the outcome of the evaluation of the Commissioners-designate hearings, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Brussels

press conference

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

2019 Commissioners' hearings (T)

von der Leyen Commission (T)

Press conference by David SASSOLI, EP President, on the outcome of the evaluation of the Commissioners-designate hearings

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President,: Good afternoon. Apologies for the delay. We just finished the conference of Presidents meeting now with so many issues on the agenda. But we really wanted to meet you because we finished the hearings, debates and assessment of the commission.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President,: And today it was decided that next week in Strasbourg we'll have a vote on the college. And obviously, if it's a favourable vote, then on 1st December, the commission will be able to start its work. We're a month late. Vis à vis the timeframe that we had set previously.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President,: We're very satisfied because the parliament really took this process seriously, and that was thanks to the work of information, the assessment of the commissioners was a trying task for parliament and extremely important.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President,: Obviously, there was a lot of public attention. Thanks to you on the issue. I think we surpassed all levels in this process. In relation to the past legislature, and obviously that's extremely important. It's important that the parliament confirms itself at the centre of the European decision making process and ensuring that this can happen with the as the executive branch of the European Union.That's extremely important for us.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President,: Obviously, we want to continue our work. The Parliament. Must ensure coherency as regards the commitments that have been made by President von der Leyen and by the commissioners. This publication is quite interesting. It includes the main points of all of the hearings that were held for each individual commissioner and all of the commitments that they have made.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President,: We will be following closely the coherency of their actions. This morning, we had a final dialogue between the executive vice presidents at the Conference of Presidents meeting, and at the end a decision was taken to conclude the process and to present the College of Commissioners next Wednesday in Strasbourg. Obviously, the end of this process is also the start of the legislature.