NOS News••Amended
The European Parliament’s Environment Committee has approved the candidacy of Wopke Hoekstra as the new European Commissioner for Climate. Hoekstra has now overcome the biggest hurdle and the case can now go to the European Parliament. That will vote on Hoekstra tomorrow afternoon. The vote is normally a formality.
The Environment Committee has also approved the nomination of Slovak Sefcovic, who as European Commissioner will also receive part of the climate portfolio.
Hoekstra had to answer additional questions that the environmental committee had asked him about his climate plans before 7 a.m. this morning. The questions have been answered to the committee’s satisfaction. The Greens, Christian Democrats, Liberals and Social Democrats in the committee agree with Hoekstra’s nomination, which means there was a two-thirds majority.
On Monday, the environmental committee postponed its decision on Hoekstra’s appointment. The CDA member had to explain his plans for three hours on Monday, but after that hearing the committee members were not yet convinced that Hoekstra was the suitable person to succeed PvdA member Frans Timmermans.
‘Miraculous Conversion’
“We have witnessed Hoekstra’s miraculous conversion to a green politician,” said PvdA MEP Mohammed Chahim. “His written answers today were more credible. We as the PvdA delegation remain critical of his transformation. We will hold him to his promises. He must now put his words into action.”
By the way, the PvdA faction will vote against Hoekstra tomorrow, Chahim reports. “We cannot separate his promises from his past actions.”
GroenLinks MEP and member of the environment committee Bas Eickhout says he is satisfied with Hoekstra’s answers. “We had doubts about the credibility of the green words during interrogation,” he said in a statement. “Now that these promises are in black and white, it is clear that the Green Deal remains a top priority for the European Commission and that is crucial.” According to him, there is now an “ambitious package” that the European Commissioners will implement.
During the hearing, Hoekstra said he wants to work on a global kerosene tax, a maritime tax and a tax on fossil fuels. He also wants the EU’s CO2 emissions to be reduced by 90 percent by 2040.