Bratušek will present her candidacy to the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI).

Slovenia's nominee is expected to present her vision of the energy union and to explain doubts surrounding her nomination, while she may also expect questions about the South Stream gas pipeline, according to ITRE chair Jerzy Buzek.

The three-hour hearing will feature a 15-minute introductory statement by the nominee, followed by a total of 45 questions from the MEPs. At the end, Bratušek will be allowed to give a five-minute concluding statement.

She has already answered a short questionnaire from the European Parliament, in which she said her main immediate priority is to ensure security of supply for the coming winter, adding that the main elements of the EU energy union would be to reduce energy consumption and increase energy security.

Although the MEPs evaluate candidates in principle based on their presentation in the oral hearings, some of them expressed reservations about a few candidates, including Bratušek, because of the controversy surrounding her virtual self-nomination for the European Commission member.

Nevertheless, Bratušek's fate is believed to be primarily dependent on her showing in the interview. If her answers are solid and her explanations regarding the criticism of her self-nomination are convincing enough, she should not be having any problems getting the green light, according to sources from Brussels.