Czech EU Commissioner candidate Jozef Síkela faces parliamentary drilling

Czech nominee for EU Commissioner, Jozef Síkela, is set for a hearing Wednesday afternoon with the European Parliament's Development Committee (DEVE). He is expected to primarily address questions regarding his role in overseeing international partnerships. Síkela, a former Czech Minister of Industry and Trade, has prepared intensively, meeting with committee members and heads of associated committees who will also be present. He is likely to address concerns about the EU's Global Gateway strategy, which aims to compete with China’s Belt and Road Initiative through investments in infrastructure in emerging regions. DEVE committee members have previously criticized the strategy’s transparency and implementation.