The Constitutional Committee of the Riigikogu supported the amendment that would oblige the Estonian candidates to the European Commission to come to the Riigikogu to introduce their positions and answer the questions of the members of the Riigikogu.

At the same time the Constitutional Committee did not support the clause of the Bill according to which the Riigikogu would nominate the Estonian candidate to the European Commission by voting.   

“It is right that the Riigikogu should hear the candidates for the Commission and pose questions to them, but such a hearing should not end in a binding vote, because the nomination procedure will continue at the European Union level,” Chairman of the Constitutional Committee Rait Maruste said. He remarked that the President of the European Commission and the European Parliament may also reject a candidate, which would bring along a conflict between the Riigikogu and the European institutions and require the Riigikogu to make a new decision. 

The Committee also discussed establishing a similar procedure for the nomination of the candidate for a Judge of the European Court of Justice. 

The Bill on Amendments to the Government of the Republic Act and the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act (604 SE) will go to the second reading at the Riigikogu sitting on 9 October.