Europe
EU Parliament confirms new climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra
The future EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra is in favor of taxes on kerosene. photo
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
There were lengthy discussions about the nomination of Wopke Hoekstra as the new EU climate commissioner. In the end he was able to convince the MEPs.
There had been a lengthy debate among parliamentarians about Hoekstra. Critics criticized the Christian Democrat primarily because of his professional past, including with the oil company Shell. Hoekstra assured in writing that he would work to ensure that the EU must avoid or offset at least 90 percent of its CO2 emissions compared to 1990 by 2040. He also wants a tax on kerosene. Subsidies for fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas should be abolished.
The vote in parliament also clears the way for Hoekstra to take part in the UN World Climate Conference (COP 28) in Dubai in two months’ time for the EU. The former Dutch foreign minister has more experience with international negotiations than with climate policy. The qualified lawyer was also formerly finance minister.
Successor to Frans Timmermanns
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte surprisingly proposed Hoekstra for the post – as a successor to his compatriot Frans Timmermans. The EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen then nominated him. Timmermans had left the EU Commission to run as the top candidate of a red-green electoral alliance in the parliamentary elections in his home country.
Green MP Michael Bloss said after the vote: “I have no doubt that the promises will be kept. We have the assurance from the top of the EU Commission.” His CDU counterpart Peter Liese emphasized that Hoekstra, who is experienced in diplomacy, could convince other large economies to act as ambitiously as the EU. SPD MEP Tiemo Wölken said Hoekstra’s answers made it clear that environmental policy would continue to be pushed forward. A break in the law, which Christian Democrats had called for, is off the table. Both the Greens, Liberals, Social Democrats and Christian Democrats welcomed the election.
MEPs also confirmed on Thursday that Slovakian EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic will take over oversight of the so-called Green Deal within the Commission. Behind this is the EU’s goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050.