After the departure of EU Commission Vice-President Timmermans, the Dutchman Hoekstra and the Slovakian Sefcovic will in future be responsible for a central area of EU policy. But first both have to face the EU Parliament.
The personnel are tough: Wopke Hoekstra and Maros Sefkovic will be responsible for the EU Commission’s once-in-a-century project until the European elections next summer, namely the Green Deal, the sustainable restructuring of Europe’s economy and society. His goal is to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050 with the help of appropriate laws.
Hoekstra is supposed to represent the EU internationally as climate commissioner, for example at the world climate summit in Dubai at the end of November. As executive deputy commissioner, Sefcovic will be responsible for coordinating the Green Deal.
Timmermans is eliminated
Frans Timmermans has previously looked after these areas. He resigned from the commission to run as the lead candidate for the red-green alliance in the Dutch parliamentary elections in November.
The Greens regretted his departure; they consider Timmermans to be the central architect of the Green Deal. The Christian Democrats see an opportunity in Timmerman’s departure from Brussels: They accuse the Dutch Social Democrat of neglecting the interests of farmers and industry through his efforts in climate and environmental policy.
Uncomfortable questions in committee
Before Hoekstra and Sefcovic can get started, they have to answer questions from members of the EU Parliament in Strasbourg – they will be “grilled”. That was definitely true for the Dutchman Hoekstra. In the evening, he was confronted with some uncomfortable questions during the more than three-hour hearing before the responsible parliamentary committee.
The Greens had expressed doubts as to whether a Christian Democrat would continue to work vigorously on the EU’s climate goals – after the Christian Democrat EPP group had recently blocked climate and environmental laws. Late in the evening, the Greens said they were “positively surprised” that Hoekstra clearly committed himself to the goal of reducing EU emissions by at least 90 percent by 2040 compared to 1990.
SPD parliamentarians also demanded explanations and commitments. Among other things, MPs expected the future climate commissioner to make a clear commitment to phasing out fossil fuels. From the point of view of his critics, the fact that Hoekstra worked for the oil multinational Shell and the management consultancy McKinsey before becoming a politician does not speak in his favour. In any case, Hoekstra was not able to convince the committee members straight away yesterday. The decision as to whether he will get through will not be made until the afternoon.
The second one has it easier
Sefcovic is scheduled to appear before the Environment Committee in the morning. He has it easier than Hoekstra. The Slovakian is considered a candidate because he is already a member of the commission and only has an additional area of responsibility. As Brussels’ Brexit negotiator, he has earned a reputation as an efficient and skilful mediator.
Finally, Parliament will vote on the two candidates. Ultimately it cannot be prevented.
EVP blocked Nature conservation laws
From the perspective of the Christian Democrats, the two would make a good team that would focus more on pragmatism and willingness to engage in dialogue in climate policy after Timmerman’s departure. Not only should it set ambitious goals, but it must also enable the industry to implement them.
EPP parliamentary group leader Manfred Weber has been warning against placing excessive burdens on farmers since a party congress in Munich in May. The Netherlands probably serves as a reminder: There, the right-wing populist peasant movement BBB became the strongest force in provincial elections in March. In the EU Parliament, the EPP has blocked the law to restore nature and rejects the planned pesticide regulation.
And what does the boss want?
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Hoekstra’s experience as a former foreign and finance minister of the Netherlands. Timmerman’s departure, which was a red flag for some conservatives, is certainly convenient for her. Because if von der Leyen runs for a second term as Commission President – as most people assume – she will need the support of her own EPP group.
The head of the Commission adopted their demands almost verbatim in her State of the Union speech three weeks ago, when, with regard to the relationship between agriculture and nature conservation, she declared that the EU needed more dialogue and less polarization. Von der Leyen also announced that she wanted to continue to support the industry and simplify procedures – all of which are the EPP’s concerns. Your new climate team with the Christian Democrat Hoekstra could further help to accommodate your own group.