BRUSSELS (AP) — The French nominee for the next European Commission has faced a barrage of questions from European lawmakers over alleged misuse of EU funds and her consultancy work for a U.S. think tank while she was a MEP.

A close ally of French president Emmanuel Macron, Sylvie Goulard has been selected to be in charge of the bloc's internal market. During a hearing by lawmakers assessing her suitability, Goulard denied any wrongdoing and stressed she has not been indicted in the ongoing French investigation.

Goulard urged European lawmakers to respect the principle of presumption of innocence and said her work for the Berggruen Institute think tank was not illegal.

Goulard, a European lawmaker from 2009-17, has faced allegations that she employed an assistant with EU money while he was actually working for her former party.