(BRUSSELS2) The great oral presentation by Catherine Asthon, the new High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will take place on January 11 (from 13 p.m. to 16 p.m.) at the European Parliament in Brussels. Three hours during which parliamentarians will be able to ask their questions and, above all, obtain answers. An intense test that will see questions and answers follow one another, at a steady pace. Ultimate test also since the success of this hearing and the opinion of parliamentarians will depend on the final appointment of Catherine Asthon, as Vice-President of the Commission, and therefore as High Representative (even if the large groups do not seem decided to unstitch). The course of the hearing was therefore fixed, to the millimeter, after several discussions. The process is broken down into 6 rounds: • After a short introduction from the president, Ashton will have 10 minutes to introduce himself. Then there will be questions from the AFET coordinators. They will have 5 minutes in the form of Questions – Answers with the right to follow-up questions (1st round). This will give a certain rhythm to the hearing (1 minute for the question, 2 for the answer, 1 for the reply question, 1 for the reply reply). The presidents of the sub-committees (defence, human rights) will have 3 minutes each (2nd round). • The third round will consist of nine questions per block of 3 deputies, each having 1 minute. They can only ask one question. And Ashton having 3 minutes to respond, on each block.
• Fourth round: A new series of committees associated with the hearing (Development, International Trade, Constitutional Affairs, Budget Control) will follow, in the form of questions and answers.
• Fifth round: the resumption of questions from MPs: nine blocks of questions in all, according to the same principle as at the beginning: block of 3 MPs, at the rate of 1 minute per question, Ashton having 3 minutes to answer each block . A particularly difficult session because there can slip in unexpected questions, less controlled by the groups. • The final round will allow each group to ask new questions, each having 3 minutes (questions and answers).
Ashton will then have 10 minutes to conclude. The final conclusion belonging to President Albertini (with 4 minutes). A total of 3 hours of hearing, at a more than sustained pace. NB: According to an initial count, there will be 18 questions from the Christian Democrats (PPE), 12 from Socialists and Democrats (S&D), 6 from Liberals and Democrats ( ALDE), 4 from the Greens, 4 from the Conservatives (ECR), 3 from the Communists and alternative left (GUE), 2 from the sovereignists (EFD), 2 from the non-affiliated.
