European Commission president José Manuel Barroso was under pressure yesterday over the future of his second EU Executive as two of his commissioners-designate failed to strike the right note with MEPs.
Although the European Parliament has not pronounced itself officially on the future of Bulgarian Rumiana Jeleva and Lithuanian Algirdas Semeta, it is doubtful whether it will be in a position to approve the whole Commission.
"It is going to be very difficult not to replace a least one of the two," a Parliament official said after a dismal performance by the two nominees in front of separate Parliament committees.
Ms Jeleva, a former MEP and now Bulgaria's Foreign Minister, is the most likely to go as she failed to convince MEPs her financial declaration did not conceal business connections she and her husband are allegedly involved in.
Facing a hostile hearing in front of the Development Committee, Ms Jeleva's hearing almost broke down as allegations over her business contacts were fired, particularly from rival Bulgarian MEPs.
Visibly distracted, Ms Jeleva failed to reply to various questions regarding possible conflicts of interest and instead lambasted MEPs for having an agenda against her.
Following the hearing, Ms Jeleva's candidacy for the development and humanitarian aid portfolio did not get the green light from MEPs who asked for Mr Barroso's position in view of allegations about her false financial declaration.
Pressed for comments, a Commission spokesman refused to pass any judgment on the hearing saying only it was still "an ongoing process".
However, pressure is mounting on Mr Barroso to ask the Bulgarian government to replace Ms Jeleva.
Lithuania's commissioner-designate for the tax and anti-fraud portfolio, Mr Semeta, is also in trouble as he failed to impress MEPs with his preparation for his new role. His replies on his vision to renew the EU's anti-fraud rules were considered evasive.
"The overwhelming impression was disappointment, which leads us to question his suitability to be nominated for this important Commission portfolio," Socialist MEP Hannes Swoboda, the group's vice president in charge of the commissioners' hearings, said.
According to EU rules, MEPs cannot botch any of the individual commissioners-designate but pressure can be piled on Mr Barroso to change portfolios or ask member states for another nomination to get the green light on the appointment of the whole Commission.
The plenary vote is expected to be taken in Brussels on January 26. However, behind-the-scenes negotiations between parliamentary groups, member states and Mr Barroso will dominate the agenda until then.