Piotr Serafin, Polish candidate for EU commissioner, appeared in the European Parliament

Serafin's hearing lasted about three hours. Earlier, journalists asked how long he had been preparing for it. “All my life,” he replied.

During the hearing, he argued that his most important task in his new position would be to prepare the next EU budget, which “should unite, not divide.”

He emphasized that the economy and climate are not the only challenges facing the EU. In this context, he mentioned, among others, the threat to Europe's security caused by aggression Russia to Ukraine. He announced that if elected, he would work on a budget that would be the answer to all these problems.

Serafin also presented an outline of the concept of the new EU budget. As he said, it will involve combining reforms with investments in each member state. – We want to develop these plans in dialogue with the capitals and regions of Europe – he said. The next element of the budget is to be the new EU competitiveness fund. Additionally, according to Serafin, the budget should be more flexible to facilitate the response to crises.

– We need a budget that will be simpler, especially for the beneficiaries. (…) Access to European funds should not be a bureaucratic nightmare. (…) We need to squeeze as much as we can out of every euro in our budget. Investment in Europe must increase dramatically. We also know that public finances cannot bear this burden on their own. That is why we need to mobilize private capital, said Serafin.

In this context, he assessed that the Union must work on financing the budget also from its own resources, because “the progress of the Member States in this area is too small.”

The candidate also assured that he intended to strengthen cooperation with institutions dealing with the fight against fraud, including the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). – VAT fraud alone has cost the EU 11 billion euros, said Serafin.

During the hearing, a question was asked whether the future EU budget would also be allocated to the protection of the Union's external borders.

It was asked by an MEP PIS Bogdan Rzońca, recalling that Poland is struggling with problems on the border with Belarus. – As political groups, we differ on many issues, but we agree that we all want to live in a safe Europe. The budget portfolio is quite strong in terms of standing among commissioners. Will you find the determination to redirect a certain part of the European Union budget to financing the security of the EU borders, including supporting the activities of Frontex and building barriers at the borders? – he asked.

Serafin replied that he believed that there was a consensus in the EU on the need to protect its external borders. – Without effectively protected external borders of the European Union, there will be no Schengen, and this would be a huge loss for the entire Community – he said.

He also said that the current European budget has been strengthened with additional funds for migration policy, including Frontex activities, integrated border protection systems and cooperation with third countries. He emphasized that this budget policy would be continued. – Also in the future, we will be able to count on the fact that the protection of external borders will be better supported from the budget – assured Serafin. He noted that it is much cheaper than paying for internal border protection.

PO MEP, former commissioner for budget, Janusz Lewandowski, asked about the construction of the first-ever “war budget” and possible “pressure” in this matter from the EU commissioner-designate for defense, Andrius Kubilius.

– I will certainly work very closely with Commissioner Kubilius and I think it is very important that we have a commissioner for defense – replied Serafin. He added that his role will be to show member states that it is advisable to spend money on defense at the EU level.

– Whether we like it or not, whether there is fiscal consolidation at the national level or not, defense spending across Europe will increase – because this is the historical need at the moment. We have already witnessed this in recent years and this trend will not stop, said Serafin.

Subsequently, Serafin's candidacy was accepted by the budget and budget control committees. The information was provided by TVN24 correspondent in Brussels, Maciej Sokołowski.

The final vote on the composition of the European Commission, after hearings, is scheduled for the end of November.

At a later briefing, Serafin referred to reports according to which in the future budget perspective, instead of several hundred operational programs, including regional ones, European Commission would propose 27 national programs.

– Regions should remain at the center of cohesion policy and this is the only form of centralization I can think of, said Serafin. He emphasized that this is not only his position, because he talked about this matter with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

– These questions arise from numerous speculations that have taken place in Brussels in recent months. But I want to say once again that these speculations did not reflect the position of the Commission, do not reflect the position of the Commission President and certainly do not reflect my position, he explained.

Pointing out that “the European budget is not made of rubber”, Serafin said that it is necessary to find ways for EU money, including that from the cohesion fund, to “achieve specific goals”. – There is room for discussion on how to organize this mechanism so that regions do not become its victims – he said.