From November 4th to November 12th 2024, the Commissioner-designates, selected by President-elect Ursula von der Leyen, will undergo hearings before the European Parliament. This is a critical moment in European governance, where Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will evaluate whether the candidates have the vision, expertise, and skills necessary for their individual portfolio and for leading Europe through complex global challenges. After the hearings have finished, Parliament will vote to approve or reject the European Commission as a whole during a plenary session: this is a crucial moment to ensure the Commission is composed of suitable and qualified candidates, that the composition of the Commission ensures key policy issues are well addressed, and to get firm commitments from Commissioner-designates on which they can be held accountable.
Citizens Take Over Europe coalition of over 70 NGOs believes that reinforcing and upgrading democracy in Europe must be a key theme of the EU’s work over the coming years. CTOE has formulated additional questions for Commissioners- designates based on their portfolios and based on the CTOE demands for Democracy.
The Commissioner designates have already responded to written questions from parliamentary committees. We welcome commitments to improving citizen participation, to improve the visibility of tools such as the ECI and others, but the responses are short on specifics and ambition.
Thus there are many specific questions to be asked to the Commissioner-designates:
- Would you be in favour of working – in cooperation with the European Parliament and civil society organizations – to create a permanent European Citizens’ Assembly, as an evolution of the experiment of European Citizens’ Panels” (Mcgrath)
- We understand this Commission is going to use European Citizens Panels more systematically in policy making: how are you going to ensure that these panels are visible to the wider public, have a meaningful impact and that the Commission is accountable to the citizens involved when it comes to follow-up? (all Commissioner designates)
- In light of the proposals and convention calling for Treaty amendment, how do you plan to ensure that the Treaty revision procedure includes meaningful and robust formats for citizen and civil society participation, particularly with the inclusion of citizens from both member and accession states, in the process of Treaty reform? (Virkkunen, Šefčovič and Kos)
- What role do you see for citizen’s assemblies in the coming enlargements? (Kos, Šefčovič)
- How would you ensure that the EU enlargement process prioritises democracy and a strong civil society? How will you ensure both citizens in accession countries and current EU member states can participate? (Kos, Virkkunen, McGrath)
- How do you plan to strengthen the ECI as a participatory instrument in the EU, to ensure that ECI’s that meet the threshold of signatures can be sure of proper followup, and that this Commission keeps any promises it makes to citizens regarding new legislative initiatives? (McGrath)
- What more can be done to protect people in Europe against disinformation and ensure a pluralist media? (Virkkunen, McGrath)
- How is this Commission going to ensure that equality and non-discrimination is at the heart of all EU actions? (Habib)
- What are your plans for developing a European digital platform for participation that empowers citizens to engage in petitions, ECIs, and even voting? How will you work to incorporate leading technologies such as civic AI in this platform to enhance access to public services and participatory opportunities? (Virkkunen, McGrath)
- What specific measures would you propose to implement electoral reforms that ensure equal voting rights for all European citizens and long-term residents, facilitate transnational lists, expand voting rights to those with long-term EU residence, and simplify the creation of new parties and electoral lists in the European Parliament elections?
- How do you plan to enforce radical transparency regarding lobbying practices and conflicts of interest involving corporate entities, private stakeholders, and EU decision-makers, and what steps will you take to ensure accountability and full disclosure of financial interactions with European leaders, MEPs, and public servants? (Serafin)
- What initiatives would you promote to build a democratic ecosystem across Europe that systematically involves those most affected by decisions, particularly in regards to local authorities, communities, and citizens’ assemblies, ensuring meaningful participation at the local level? (McGrath, Suica)
- What strategies would you implement to protect European civil society organisations? What role do you see for safeguarding civic spaces, ensuring robust funding, and creating a permanent mechanism to monitor EU legislation’s impact on the functioning of civil society at both domestic and transnational levels? (McGrath)
- No Commissioner has be charged with the responsibility of following up on the Council’s request for a vision of governance reform in the EU by spring 2025, notably when it comes to voting and procedures: how will the Commission follow up on this, given that this is also a request of the Conference on the Future of Europe and institutional reform is mentioned as a prerequisite for future economic prosperity also in the Draghi report?
- How do you as a Commissioner – and the Commission as a collective body – intend to deal with EU member states that contravene the basic rules of democracy, the rule of law, and respect for open, pluralistic civil society? The current instruments are clearly not sufficient; what kind of new, more robust approach, which effectively defends the values of art. 2 TEU, do you intend to develop? (McGrath)
Our expectations and objectives
We expect the new Commission to diligently follow up on our questions and the action points outlined in our manifesto. To do so, they must prioritise treaty reform to bring democracy at the forefront of European politics. If successful, we can establish a Europe empowering its citizens, and increase innovation in the digital space, enhancing awareness and participation.
Concrete initiatives, such as establishing permanent people’s assemblies and strengthening the European Citizens’ Initiative, will create enduring connections between civil society and the EU. Therefore, we hope the next generation of commissioners will remain united and committed to our objectives, for citizens sake.
Now is the time to champion a citizen-centred democracy. More information on the Commissioner hearings coming soon
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