In the Committee on Budgetary Control, Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin commented on the criticism of contracts between CINEA, the Commission's executive agency, and environmental NGOs. The Commission's review of the contracts had not yet been completed.
By Markus Grabitz
The Commission supports environmental NGOs with six-figure sums every year. Contracts that were previously kept secret reveal what the NGOs have to do in return: Lobby parliamentarians and advocate positions, some of which go against Commission positions.
By Markus Grabitz
The Brussels authority wants to make billions available to promote batteries for EU cars and renewable hydrogen. The money is to come from the innovation fund.
By Marion Bergermann
370 MEPs from the EPP, S D, Renew, ECR and Greens voted in favor of the new Commission. This gave the College 88 votes more than it needed for confirmation. No SPD MEP voted yes – in protest against EPP group leader Weber's "cuddling up" to far-right parties.
By Markus Grabitz
It was a long road until the coordinators nominated the six Executive Vice-Presidents and the Health Commissioner. All 26 Commissioners have now been confirmed by Parliament in the hearings. In recent years, Parliament has repeatedly blocked individual candidates.
By Till Hoppe
According to a report in the Financial Times, the EU is planning to make China more accountable for access to the European market with stricter regulations for clean technologies.
By
In the first week of hearings, 19 out of 20 candidates for the new Commission were confirmed at the first attempt. Difficulties are looming in the final phase: The candidates from Hungary and Italy are encountering resistance from liberals and socialists for political reasons. This also puts the Spanish candidate in danger.
By Markus Grabitz
Valdis Dombrovskis, the longest-serving Commissioner with an EPP party membership, is responsible for the central topic of the new mandate: strengthening competitiveness. The Commissioner-designate for Economic Affairs from Latvia was confirmed in the coordinators' meeting.
By Markus Grabitz
Piotr Serafin was confirmed as Commissioner by the European Parliament's Committee on Budgets and Budgetary Control. He wants a more powerful MFF, whose funds are also linked to reforms in member states.
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Olivér Várhelyi was met with great reservations by MEPs at the hearing in the AGRI and ENVI Committees. However, the candidate for the Health and Animal Welfare portfolio was well prepared and did not allow himself to get carried away with emotional statements. Nevertheless, he was not nominated.
By Markus Grabitz
