23/07/2024 (Agence Europe) – The current European Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke Hoekstra, from the Netherlands, has been nominated by the Dutch government as a candidate for the next European Commission. “I thank PM Dick Schoof and his team very much for their trust”, he posted on X on Tuesday 23 July. This decision was described as “striking” by several media outlets, including RTL Nieuws - the Dutch media outlet that broke the news on 22 July - given that the Christian Democratic party, the CDA, to which Mr Hoekstra belongs, is not part of the government coalition. Mr Hoekstra became Commissioner for Climate Action after the resignation of Frans Timmermans in August 2023 (see EUROPE 13264/2). However, it is unlikely that he will retain the same portfolio. (PLD)