New European Commission To Get Final Confirmation

New European Commission is expected to take office on Dec. 1 if European Parliament's plenary votes in favor on Nov. 27, president of the parliament said on Thursday.

"The European Parliament decides on the new European Commission next Wednesday," David Sassoli announced on Thursday in Brussels after meeting the political groups leaders.

"If confirmed by the majority of the members of the European Parliament, the new Commission led by President-elect Ursula von der Leyen can take office on Dec. 1," he added.

Public hearings for the Commissioners-designates took place in the parliamentary committees on Sept. 30-Oct. 8, and on Nov. 14.

Following Thursday's final assessment on the outcome of the hearings, European Parliament's plenary session needs to confirm the investiture of the entire College of Commissioners on Nov. 27 in Strasbourg.

Oliver Varhelyi, commissioner-designate for Neighborhood and Enlargement, was given the green light by the EP's Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this week.

"Turkey is an important partner for the EU and we have a strong interest in cooperating effectively with Turkey," the Hungarian commissioner-designate said.

He assessed "adequate" the amount of €250 million ($277 million) dedicated from EU's 2020 budget to the Instrument for Pre-accession (IPA funds) for Turkey, which "focuses on supporting an independent and vibrant civil society," as well as on "key policies such as climate change or environmental protection".

If the EP's plenary approves the new European Commission on Nov. 27, President Ursula von der Leyen and the 26 commissioners from each EU member state will take office on Dec. 1. But the absence of the British commissioner still raises some legal uncertainty. -