On 2 October 2014, Kristalina Georgieva, Vice-President designate of the EC in charge of Budget and Human Resources, was heard by the Committees on Budgets, on Budgetary Control and on Legal Affairs of the European Parliament to test her general competences, European commitment and specific expertise related to her portfolio. Kristalina Georgieva had the opportunity to make an opening statement, she 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as a whole, a negative assessment of one of the candidates has in the past already led to the candidacy being withdrawn and replaced. In the outgoing Commission, Kristalina Georgieva was in charge of International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.

Brussels

exchange of views

Committee on Budgets

hearing

Committee on Budgetary Control

DEPREZ, Gérard (ALDE, BE)

GARDIAZABAL RUBIAL, Eider (S&D, ES)

KÖLMEL, Bernd (ECR, DE)

GEORGIEVA, Kristalina (BG)

FERNANDES, José Manuel (EPP, PT)

hearing of Kristalina GEORGIEVA (T)

Hearing of Kristalina GEORGIEVA (Bulgaria), Commissioner-designate for Budget and Human Resources: MEPs questions & answers

Title: Hearing of Kristalina GEORGIEVA (Bulgaria), Commissioner-designate for Budget and Human Resources: MEPs questions &amp; answers 

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Jos&#233; Manuel FERNANDES (EPP, PT), BUDG commmittee , "You mentioned the serious problem of payments, but how do you want to envisage to take action? What commitment will you enter into, what commitment can give Parliament first of all to stabilize, to solve the problem?"

SOUNDBITE (English), Kristalina GEORGIEVA, Commissioner-designate for Budget and Human Resources, "This is where I think that the Mid-term review is so important, we have to look into the future and say given the challenges that we have faced, how do we approach the delivery of the European budget and what the outcome would be nobody can predict, but at least that would be a moment of time to do what you are suggesting to look in medium term of the impact of this very tight payment levels."

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Eider GARDIAZ&#193;BAL RUBIAL (S&amp;D, ES), BUDG committee, "We are concerned because you will be in the group coordinating the implementation of the (300 Billion Euro) investments, are there going to be some incidents on the European budget?"

SOUNDBITE (English), Kristalina GEORGIEVA, Commissioner-designate for Budget and Human Resources, "Change is happening constantly and adjustment to it, change means that it is prudent to take stock a mid-term and review the implementation of the MFF (multi financial framework), what are the conditions of our economies, we don't know, but we hope that they will be better, how well are we implementing, what are the needs, what are the priorities at that point of time. And let's see where it will take us, but I'm absolutely committed that we would take this task very, very seriously."

SOUNDBITE (German), Bernd K&#214;LMEL (ECR, DE), BUDG committee, "I'm also concerned about not being implemented properly, particularly that no real added value is generated in any sustainable way will have an impact on our citizens." + "The EU cannot indebt itself so I like to hear from hear from you how you gone tidy up this mess."

SOUNDBITE (English), Kristalina GEORGIEVA, Commissioner-designate for Budget and Human Resources, "What we are facing in Europe today is that there is plenty of money in the financial systems, in the banks doing absolutely nothing for businesses and jobs. And we have to wake this energy up, we have to help our businesses, especially the SME's to be able to work harder and to work more, so that the 300 Billion of course this also for public investments programmes, but only programmes that unleash the capacity of our economies to work more for our people."

SOUNDBITE (French), G&#233;rard DEPREZ (ALDE, BE), BUDG committee, "We have been told by Commissioner Dominik that would be enough to stop further deterioration, in other words, we are countenancing the lack in payments being worsened. We have to wait until 2019 for a significant change, we don't have time to do that Madame Commissioner, what we have to do is a strategic plan and you can rely on the European Parliament to pursue to that and to try and overcome our payment time-like as quickly as possible. So do you have a strategic plan up the sleeve to reduce that back-lack in payments?"

SOUNDBITE (English), Kristalina GEORGIEVA, Commissioner-designate for Budget and Human Resources, "In the next months we must, we must apply flexibility to be able to stabilise payments and give space for what is absolutely crucial, an ability to use our budget more productively without delays and postponements."

SOUNDBITE (English), Kristalina GEORGIEVA, Commissioner-designate for Budget and Human Resources, "Do we have agreed on what has to be done, the room for manoeuver is somewhat limited, but let's think on the positive side, we have more money for competitiveness, much more than before, we have more money for horizontal problems and to avoid this time to run in trouble I will come back to you on this question and I would come repeatedly on that question, time and again, because it is crucial for us in an interactive manner to move Europe forward."

SOUNDBITE (English), Kristalina GEORGIEVA, Commissioner-designate for Budget and Human Resources, Answering to a question of Ms Liadh NI RIADA (BUDG committee), (GUE, IE) "One of the biggest worries I have is that sometimes we are too enthusiastic to move before we have done a very prudent assessment of these pilots. And I promise you that this is not going to be the case I would not let that happen, but of course on the same side we have to do more for people that are most seriously impacted, the Youth guarantee is a very good scheme, we have 6 Billion. I hope to be the Commissioner that sees this to expand and be extended."

SOUNDBITE (English), Kristalina GEORGIEVA, Commissioner-designate for Budget and Human Resources, Answering to a question of Mr Indrek TARAND (BUDG committee), (Greens/EFA, EE) "I'm convinced professionally but also from my experience as these 5 years as Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, that climate change is for real, it is already happening and the fight against climate change probably is the most important fight we have to take upon. The Commission has made a commitment of 20 per cent of use of resources, this year as you probably know we are at 12.5 per cent and obviously my objective is that we achieve the 20 per cent and actually I would be very happy if we exceed the 20%. "