The new European Commission is scheduled to take office no sooner than early December, following the hearings of the commissioners before the Members of the European Parliament, which will occur from November 4 to 12, as outlined in the schedule released on Wednesday.
Re-elected for a five-year term, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen introduced the new commissioners—one from each member state—along with their respective portfolios in mid-September. However, they must successfully navigate the rigorous hearing process and secure a vote from the European Parliament before being officially appointed.
These crucial hearings, announced by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola after a meeting with political group leaders on Wednesday, will be held from November 4 to 12. Therefore, the new Commission, which serves as the executive body within European institutions, will not officially assume office until at least early December. Von der Leyen had originally hoped for an early November timeline, but that was ultimately considered overly ambitious.
Following a review of potential conflicts of interest among the candidates, MEPs will interrogate them for three to four hours regarding their portfolios and proposed actions during each hearing.
