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Candidates for commissioner must submit answers for the EP, Síkela was asked about migration

by AI | 21.Oct 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The MEPs asked Síkely, who is expected to gain the portfolio of international cooperation, among other things, what he will focus on in relations between the EU and Africa and what connection he sees between the EU’s development cooperation and migration issues.

Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela. Photo: EP/Eric Vidal

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Brussels – Candidates for new European Commissioners, including Jozef Sikela, have only one day left to respond to the written questions they received from MEPs. Answers to the comprehensive questions must be sent by Tuesday, October 22, and the European Parliament will subsequently publish them immediately. Sikela, who is expected to obtain the international cooperation portfolio, was asked by MEPs, among other things, what he will focus on in relations between the EU and Africa, and what connection he sees between EU development cooperation and migration issues. Sikela confirmed to CTK that he submitted his answers last week.

“I submitted the answers to the MEPs’ questions last week. They mainly concerned my further plans for developing the international partnership portfolio and the Global Gateway program, and the projects that are part of it,” said the Czech candidate for European Commissioner. “The topic also included the EU’s new foreign economic policy and its connections to this program. Last but not least, I answered questions on the topic of EU cooperation with vulnerable states and development aid,” added Sikela.

Each of the 26 candidates for members of the new European Commission received two general questions from MEPs. The first concerned general ability to perform the function and personal independence, and the second question concerned cooperation of the European Commissioner with the European Parliament. The other five questions for Sikela were written by members of the Committee on Development (DEVE), before whom the Czech candidate will also have a public hearing. It will take place on Wednesday, November 6.

In the first question, MEPs from the DEVE Committee asked the former Czech minister about the relationship between development cooperation and foreign economic policy, and about the Global Gateway strategy. It is this investment initiative, which the union wants to compete with China’s new Silk Road project, that Sikela will sponsor. The EU plan foresees securing investments of up to 300 billion euros (7.5 trillion CZK) in infrastructure in developing countries, especially in Africa, India, Latin America, and the Pacific in the coming years.

In another question, MEPs are asking what specific areas Sikela as a European Commissioner will prioritize in the partnership between the EU and Africa, and how he intends to gain the trust of African partners. The sixth question concerns migration and development cooperation, and Sikela received another four questions from four so-called invited committees. In the case of the Czech candidate, these are the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), the Committee on International Trade (INTA), and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE). Therefore, he had to answer a total of 11 questions in writing. (October 21)

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