We do not tolerate any restriction of competition, said Margrethe Vestager.

Discussions around EU enlargement in the region of almost 18 million people stretch back 20 years, with Brussels blowing hot and cold during that period.

Austria's Gewessler says the EU's pro-renewables group, which today represents more than half of the bloc's citizens, was first formed to combat aggressive lobbying by pro-nuclear countries.

For most members of the European Parliament, there seems to be a collective sense that this composition represents the best possible outcome, given the competing political forces involved.

The pharmaceutical industry has highlighted the need for an urgent revision of Greek public hospitals' pharmaceutical budget. Clawbacks reached an all-time high for the first half of 2023, raising concerns about ongoing patients’ access.

“Health preparedness actions and the overall resilience of health systems must be seen as an investment and not a cost,” writes Lahbib.

“I will spare no effort in defending the EU’s values and protecting the EU’s interest vis-a-vis systemic rivals,” Kallas said.

In his answers to MEPs, Fitto sought to dispel doubts about his nomination, reaffirming his commitment to European values and declaring himself a "firm supporter of the European project."

"The EU needs to accelerate, reduce red tape, and provide clarity and certainty for both businesses and consumers," said Séjourné.

“We can only win the competition for the decisive innovations of the future (…) on a European level," says Germany Economy Minister Habeck.

Documents recently made public reveal concerns over the Hungarian law's compatability with the EU's novel food regulation.

Suspected Russian-backed disinformation campaigns in Moldova and Georgia have raised questions on the EU's counternarrative.

A fight between the European Parliament's political factions has left the legislature unable to give its opinion on how the EU's 2025 budget should be spent.

The Cypriot nominee wants to "put an end to public subsidies that reinforce fishing capacity" through a new WTO agreement.

Much of the commissioners’ input could be boiled down to one term: ‘competitiveness’, trendy Brussels lingo for making Europe's ageing economy fit for the future.

"France’s strategy today is to try to capitalise on Hezbollah’s weakening to push for change. But the reality is that Paris lacks strong local support," David Khalfa tells Euractiv.

The Polish candidate also sought to reassure regional and local governments, currently worried about losing out from EU spending reforms.

“The US remains our number one trading partner, and I intend to further develop our bilateral relationship through dialogue as well as through an assertive defence of our interests,” said the seasoned Brussels insider.

“The jury is still out on how political he will be willing to be in his new role, especially as von der Leyen has taken a leading role [on migration].”

The European Parliament published written answers from the commissioners-designate ahead of the hearings and these are the key takeaways.