In numbers: Commission leadership face grilling from MEPs

European Union legislators will today begin their grilling of the 26 nominees for the European Commission. In a series of hearings the candidates will face tough questions about their experience and suitability for office. Promoting economic growth and expanding the EU's global influence are just two priorities of the incoming Commission, the first under the new Lisbon Treaty. All of the hearings can be seen live online here. Here are some numbers about the hearings.

The hearings in numbers

26 Commissioners-designate to be grilled

3 hours per hearing

1 minutes for the candidate's opening statement, after that it's MEPs' questions all the way

9 women nominees

26th January is when the Parliament votes on the whole Commission

2 rooms specially adapted for the hearing

22-language coverage on our special hearings website

6 mobile cameras in each room for live recording

5 years is the term of office for the new Commission

50 seats will be set aside for the press in each room

1 press point outside each room, immediately following each hearing

59,000 EP Facebook fans who can comment on the hearings as they unfold

 

The hearings will take place throughout this week in Brussels, with the final four hearings scheduled in Strasbourg next week.