Five questions for MEPs to ask Maroš Šefčovič

Maroš Šefčovič had an easy ride at his first hearing earlier this month, when he was the nominee for transport policy. He showed he had mastered the technical aspects of the portfolio and his gentle, pleasant demeanor put MEPs in a relaxed mood.

The stakes are higher now that he has been nominated to be a vice-president for the sensitive subject of energy. Here are five questions MEPs should ask him at his confirmation hearing on Monday night (20 October):

1) The leader of your party, Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, has threatened to veto future sanctions against Russia and has described the EU’s sanctions regime as “senseless” and “counterproductive”. What is your view of the EU’s sanctions regime? If the situation in eastern Ukraine worsens, would you support further measures against Russia’s oil sector?

2) We have heard repeatedly from other European commissioners-designate that European commissioners are guardians of the treaty who must act in the European rather than national interest. Yet, in the college of commissioners, you consistently voted in line with Slovakia’s energy policy and explicitly said that you were reflecting the position of your national government. Why should we believe that, as vice-president for the ‘energy union’, you would promote European policies that might run counter to the position of Slovakia’s government?

3) When you became a commissioner, you were a diplomat and were not a member of any party. Why did you join Slovakia’s socialist party, Smer, this year?

4) You received your higher education – a top-level diplomatic training – in the Soviet Union’s leading diplomatic college. When Ms Mogherini, the incoming chief of EU foreign policy, reviews the EU’s policy towards Russia, what changes would you advise her to propose? What recommendations would you make specifically in the area of energy policy?

5) Climate change is a reality. Please tell us what you personally believe is an appropriate energy mix for Europe, and what level of emissions reduction the EU should be aiming for.

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