New EU bosses face grilling

In hearings that began on Monday afternoon, the European Parliament started quizzing those picked to serve in the new European Commission. The Commission, which will be headed by former Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker, proposes EU laws and plays a key role in their implementation.

The EU's Trade Commissioner-designate, Swedish politician Cecilia Malmstroem (pictured above), is facing questions on how she would handle free trade negotiations with the United States. She reportedly told lawmakers the negotiations have to be more transparent to avoid a public backlash.

She has vowed to continuously make public details about her meetings, and allow EU lawmakers access to all documents underpinning the talks.

Malmstroem critical of negotiations

In a first version of her prepared answers, Malmstroem sharply criticized a key element of the EU-US trade deal.

According to her prepared responses, Malmstroem has taken issue with a legal mechanism whereby foreign companies can resolve disputes with governments directly by court action. Washington has backed the mechanism, known as ISDS.

But countries like Germany are worried this would overly favor corporate interests, with European and US consumers losing out.

In comments published on the EU parliament's website later on Monday, Malmstroem modified her position but still remains opposed. She is expected to say the EU's executive "will not accept that the jurisdiction of courts in the EU Member States is limited by special regimes for investor disputes."

"The rule of law and the principle of equality before the law must also be applied in this context," she adds.

Her comments come as both sides meet in Washington for the seventh round of talks. If successful, the deal would bring together the world's two biggest markets.

The other hearings due for Monday are: Malta's Karmenu Vella, environment and fisheries; Croatia's Neven Mimica, international cooperation, and; Germany's Günther Oettinger, digital economy.

Oettinger moves from his former position as energy commissioner to take up the new role. The digital economy portfolio will involve an overhaul of the EU's telecoms market.

The incoming EU Commission must be endorsed by the Parliament. Lawmakers, however, cannot veto specific commissioners.

jr/dr (dpa, Reuters, AFP, AP)