As part of our ongoing Just the Facts publications in relation to the nomination and appointment of officials to the EU institutions, such as one here on the College of Commissioners, in this Just the Facts we look at the appointment of European Commissioners and the steps involved in appointing a new European Commissioner. 

Introduction: How are European Commissioners appointed?

Article 17(3) TEU states that “the Commission shall be completely independent” where its members “shall neither seek nor take instructions from any Government or other institution, body, office or entity” where its members’ ”independence is beyond doubt.”

As ‘the guardians of the Treaties’, the independence of the European Commission is paramount to ensure it is free from external influences. Therefore, the appointment of Commissioners is exclusively a European level process.

As University College Dublin’s Prof Gavin Barrett highlighted in a recent IACES opinion piece, a common accord is reached on a list of Commissioner candidates between the Council of the EU and the Commission President-elect. This list is based on Member State government’s “suggestions” as stated in Article 17(7) TEU. The same article states that the Commission President is “elected” by the European Parliament.

Before obtaining the consent from the European Parliament as a whole, as stated under Article 17(7) TEU, the nominated list of Commissioners appear before the Parliament committee that matches their designated portfolio for a single three hour-long ‘hearing’. During this meeting, MEPs assess the aptitude of each of the candidates on relating EU policy issues and examine any potential or actual conflicts of interest.

In November 2020, following the hearings, 707 out of the then 751 MEPs voted on whether to approved of Ursula von der Leyen’s Commission. A total of 461 voted (65%) in favour of her Commission, 157 voting against (22%) with 89 abstentions (13%). It is only after the vote in Parliament that the Commission is formally appointed by the European Council, acting by qualified majority voting.

Read more here.