On the sidelines of the plenary session in Strasbourg, the European Parliament is preparing to hear Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner-designate for Climate Action, on Monday 2 October from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. The European Parliament’s Environment Committee (ENVI) will assess his ability to take on this role. The Industry (ITRE), Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Development (DEVE) committees will also be taking part.
The following day, European Commission Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič will be questioned by the ENVI Committee on his extended responsibilities in relation to the European Green Deal, on which he is now expected to lead (see EUROPE 13243/7).
The appointment of Wopke Hoekstra, following the resignation of Frans Timmermans, European Commission Vice-President and the main architect of the European Green Deal (see EUROPE 13235/24), has provoked strong reactions, highlighting important institutional and environmental issues (see EUROPE 13242/6).
Born on 30 September 1975 in Bennekom, the Netherlands, Mr Hoekstra studied at Leiden University. From 2002 to 2004, he held various positions at oil company Shell, before joining McKinsey & Company in 2006 as a consultant, and then as a partner from 2013. He then joined the Dutch government in 2011, initially as a member of the Senate for the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), a party on the right of the political spectrum, of which he remained leader until his appointment was proposed.
He later served as Minister for Finance. He was named in 2020 in the Pandora Papers for investments made in the British Virgin Islands (see EUROPE 12804/2), and then became Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2022.
Although the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, was quick to endorse Mr Hoekstra’s candidacy (see EUROPE 13238/2), there have also been dissenting voices. The Green 10 coalition, which brings together environmental organisations, has flagged his past at Shell and a number of controversial decisions, such as his financial support for the airline KLM and his limits with regard to certain emission reduction targets (see EUROPE 13242/6). The label of ‘Mr No’, which he was given during the negotiations on the 2020 recovery plan, also tarnishes his image, particularly in the eyes of representatives from southern Europe. For its part, the ‘We move Europe’ organisation launched a petition which, at the time of writing, has received 103,000 signatures.
In the European Parliament, the S&D group expressed its concern, stressing “the importance of keeping the climate portfolio within the family of Socialists and Democrats”, at the end of August (see EUROPE 13236/1). On Friday 29 September, the co-chairs of The Left group said that Mr Timmermans’ departure left a gap that Mr Hoekstra “is not capable of filling”. Dutchwoman Anja Hazekamp also criticised her compatriot, “a former Shell employee”, for trying to sabotage key elements of the European Green Deal.
Nevertheless, the coordinator of the EPP group in the ENVI Committee, Peter Liese from Germany, is hoping for a promising collaboration between Maroš Šefčovič and Wopke Hoekstra, defending the latter’s skills and experience in climate policy and hoping that the hearings will not be influenced by national politics.
On Monday, Wopke Hoekstra is likely to be questioned about his past at Shell and his support for KLM. MEPs will be seeking to understand how this background might influence his decision-making as European Commissioner for Climate Action. Questions could also focus on his views on the EU’s current environmental and climate challenges and how he envisages meeting these challenges while balancing the region’s diverse economic and social interests.
These questions are likely to be similar to the written questions submitted by MEPs on 20 September, to which Wopke Hoekstra has already replied. In response to questions from the European Parliament, the Commissioner-designate emphasised his preparation and his commitment to Europe. “I grew up during the Cold War”, he said, recalling his support for European cooperation. Asked about portfolio management and cooperation with Parliament, he said legislative discussions “would be built on treating the Parliament and Council as complete equals”.
In the face of the climate emergency, Mr Hoekstra said that “ COP28 is a very important milestone” and expressed his determination in terms of climate diplomacy, wanting to “engage with all parties, notably the G20 countries”. When asked about a target for 2040, he undertook to “publish a detailed impact assessment of different targets based on an emissions budget”. On the link between climate action and biodiversity, he said: “A number of European instruments already acknowledge these links, such as the European Climate Law and the Common Agricultural Policy”.
And on the subject of fossil fuel subsidies, Mr Hoekstra was categorical. “I am fully committed to pursue additional actions to phase out fossil fuel subsidies”, he said.
The decision on whether to approve Mr Hoekstra’s appointment is due to be taken at the October plenary session on Thursday 5 October, after assessment by the Conference of Presidents. This appointment, if given final approval by the Council of the EU, will be in force until the end of the von der Leyen Commission’s term of office, at the end of November 2024.
Link to the written replies of the two European Commissioners-designate: https://aeur.eu/f/8te ; https://aeur.eu/f/8tf (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)