The hearing of the Cypriot candidate for the next European Commission, Kostas Kadis, will take place on Wednesday afternoon in Brussels. Selected by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Kadis has been proposed for the role of Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans. The hearing will be held from 14:30 to 17:30 local time (15:30 to 18:30 Cyprus time).

During his introductory statement, Kadis will respond to written questions from members of the European Parliament’s Fisheries (PECH) and Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety (ENVI) Committees. Following this, he will answer oral questions from MEPs covering all areas within his portfolio.

The hearing will be broadcast live on the European Parliament’s website, where Kadis’ written answers to PECH and ENVI questions, along with his financial interests declaration, have been posted. 

After the hearing, both committees will hold a closed session to evaluate Kadis’ suitability for the Commission role, focusing on his qualifications and preparation for the position. The final decision to approve his candidacy, however, lies solely with PECH, while ENVI participates as an observer.

By Tuesday evening, ten hearings had taken place, with most candidates receiving the green light to proceed. However, a decision on Swedish candidate Jessica Roswall (Environment, Water Resilience, and Competitive Circular Economy) remains pending due to a partially problematic hearing. Roswall may be required to answer additional written questions or even face a second hearing.

The hearings continue Thursday with four more candidates and on Tuesday, November 12, with six executive vice-presidents. The Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament (President Metsola and political group leaders) will consider all committee evaluations on November 21. If all candidates are positively assessed, the new Commission will be presented for approval in the plenary session from November 25 to 28 in Strasbourg.

Besides Kadis, five other Commissioner-designates will appear before relevant parliamentary committees on Wednesday, the third day of hearings:

- Belgium's Hadja Lahbib (Crisis Preparedness and Management) will address the Development (DEVE), Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), and ENVI Committees from 9:00 to 12:00 local time (10:00 to 13:00 Cyprus time).  

- Portugal's Maria Albuquerque (Financial Affairs and the Union of Deposits and Investments) will appear before the Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) Committee from 9:00 to 12:00.  

- Czech Republic's Josef Sikela (International Partnerships) will address DEVE from 14:30 to 17:30 local time (15:30 to 18:30 Cyprus time).  

- Lithuania’s Andrius Kubilius (Defense and Space) will appear before the Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Industry, Research, and Energy (ITRE) Committees from 18:30 to 21:30 local time (19:30 to 22:30 Cyprus time).  

- Hungary's Oliver Varhelyi (Health and Animal Welfare) will address ENVI and the Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) Committee from 14:30 to 17:30 local time.

Monday’s hearings included Slovakia’s Maroš Šefčovič (Trade and Economic Security), Malta’s Glen Micallef (Intergenerational Relations, Youth, Culture, and Sports), Luxembourg’s Christophe Hansen (Agriculture and Food), and Greece’s Apostolos Tzitzikostas (Sustainable Transport and Tourism). 

On Tuesday, hearings were held for Ireland’s Michael McGrath (Democracy, Justice, and Rule of Law), Bulgaria’s Ekaterina Zaharieva (Startups, Research, and Innovation), Denmark’s Dan Jørgensen (Energy and Housing), Croatia’s Dubravka Šuica (Mediterranean Affairs), Sweden’s Jessica Roswall (Environment, Water Resilience, and Competitive Circular Economy), and Austria’s Magnus Brunner (Home Affairs and Migration).