The commissioners-designate have responded to questions posed by the European Parliament in writing, kick-starting the first phase of their hearings in early November (4th to 12th). For most members of the European Parliament, there seems to be a collective sense that this composition represents the best possible outcome, given the competing political forces involved. As a result, most political groups appear content in pushing the selection process forward, avoiding excessive scrutiny, which could potentially unravel the entire arrangement. While things seem stable during this initial phase, there may still be commissioners-designate who fail to make it through the final round. Who might be excluded and what impact could this have on the appointment of the next College of Commissioners? To break this down, our host Evi Kiorri is joined by our politics reporter, Magnus Lund Nielsen, who has the inside information from Strasbourg. [Edited by Rajnish Singh]