At his hearing in Strasbourg on Monday evening (2 October), Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner-designate for Climate Action, stressed to the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment (ENVI) his commitment and the importance of European solidarity. He stressed the need for “continuity of effort” on climate issues, referring to the need to build on the “foundations laid by the European Green Deal”.
“At COP28, discussions will focus on the level of ambition and financing. These two subjects are intrinsically linked. The more funds we can raise, the more ambitious we can be in adjusting to the Fit for 55 target”, he declared.
He continued: “We are the world leaders in terms of ambition and implementation and, by providing the largest share of climate finance, we will be at the forefront in demonstrating global solidarity, but the reality is pretty harsh and the Paris targets are a long way from being met”.
And if Mr Hoekstra admitted past mistakes in managing the pandemic when he was Dutch Finance Minister, he committed to a more united approach in the future. He pointed out that decisions taken today will affect future generations, and that climate change required “a coordinated global action”.
He also mentioned specific proposals such as introducing a tax on paraffin and ending subsidies for fossil fuels. “Fossil fuels must become a thing of the past”, he said.
Wopke Hoekstra emphasised as well the need for close collaboration with various partners, including farmers, to ensure a successful green transition. He also stressed the difficulty, but also the crucial importance, of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, and called for collective action to achieve this.
In response to concerns expressed by Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA, Dutch) about the Commissioner-designate’s track record - notably with the oil company Shell - and the guarantees he could offer on the ban of fossil fuel subsidies, Mr Hoekstra reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with Member States to reduce and eventually eliminate these subsidies. He stressed the need to have precise figures for these subsidies and promised to work to ensure that the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework no longer includes them. The Commissioner-designate acknowledged as well the challenges of the need for unanimity within the EU Council, but stressed his intention to be as strict as possible on this issue. He has also repeatedly insisted on his “independence”, both in relation to his time with the oil company and his work with the consulting firm McKinsey & Company.
When asked about the green transition and its impact on farmers, Wopke Hoekstra underlined the importance of promoting sustainable agriculture while being attentive to farmers’ economic needs. He acknowledged that changes will have to be made, including perhaps a reduction in livestock numbers, but that these changes must be managed in a way that protects both the environment and the economic well-being of farmers.
In addition, on the issue of the Nature Restoration Law (see EUROPE 13244/12), which had caused quite a stir in Parliament, not least because of the desire to weaken the proposal expressed by the EPP group, to which Mr Hoekstra belongs, he confined himself to acknowledging the interconnection between nature, climate and health, while indicating that he would work closely with other Commissioners to address these issues in a holistic manner, and indicated that, on the issue of biodiversity, he was on the same wavelength as Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, who is responsible for this portfolio.
Asked about his alleged desire to soften criticism of Qatar during the last World Cup, when he was Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wopke Hoekstra referred to the importance of diplomacy, mentioning that he had discussed human rights during his visit to the country. He expressed the need to engage in dialogue with nations despite profound disagreements, in order to defend fundamental European values.
As a former Finance Minister, Mr Hoekstra spoke of his proactive approach to tackling financial problems, particularly those linked to climate change. He stressed that, for the countries of the South, climate issues are not just a question of financing, but also a question of trust. He reiterated the importance of keeping his promises.
When asked by Marie Toussaint (Greens/EFA, French) about the need to reform the Stability Pact to ensure substantial European investment in the climate, Mr Hoekstra said that he saw three major challenges for Europe: climate change, global security and technological disruption. He acknowledged that these challenges will require sustained and substantial investment, and that this would have an impact on the Stability Pact. He also called for the creation of own resources for the EU in order to reduce dependence on national finance ministries.
In addition, he spoke about the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading System (ETS) (see EUROPE 13164/13), describing it as a valuable tool for EU climate policy, particularly with the recent addition of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). He even ‘confessed’ that: “I'm in love with the ETS system”.
The hearing, marked by numerous technical interruptions, lasted almost four hours. On Monday evening, the Chair of the ENVI committee, Pascal Canfin, said via X (formerly Twitter) that the committee coordinators’ final decision on Mr Hoekstra’s performance will come at 2pm on Tuesday, after the hearing of Maros Šefčovič (see EUROPE 13262/2).
Depending on the decision of the ENVI Committee coordinators (two-thirds approval is required), Mr Hoekstra’s appointment will be put to a vote at the European Parliament plenary session on Thursday 5 October. If this is approved by the EU Council, Mr Hoekstra will remain in office until the end of the mandate of the Commission headed by Ursula von der Leyen, which is November 2024.
To see Wopke Hoekstra’s mission statement: https://aeur.eu/f/8fp
To see Wopke Hoekstra’s answers to the written questions: https://aeur.eu/f/8tf (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)