Elissavet Vozemberg (EPP, Greek), MEP and Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN), announced that the nomination of Apóstolos Tzitzikóstas as European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism had been accepted on Tuesday 5 November on the X social network.
Mr Tzitzikóstas’ hearing was held the previous evening (see EUROPE 13517/3). He received 39 votes in favour - 12 from the EPP, 9 from the S&D, 5 from the PfEs, 5 from the ECR, 5 from Renew Europe and 3 from the Greens/EFA - whereas 30 votes would have sufficed for a two-thirds majority. The three members of The Left abstained, while the two from the ESN group voted against.
“He showed a willingness to improve workers’ rights in all modes of transport and also to stick to decarbonisation targets in the sector”, noted Johan Danielsson (S&D, Swedish) on X. MEP Jens Gieseke (EPP, German) praised the Commissioner-designate’s “very good performance” and “solid answers”.
He also convinced the professional representatives. “HOTREC is particularly pleased with the objective of working on a clearer targeted budget line for tourism”, commented the association representing the restaurant and hotel industry on the LinkedIn social network on Tuesday. “European railways stand ready to work with and support the Commissioner-designate in achieving these ambitious and necessary priorities”, emphasised CER Executive Director Alberto Mazzola in a press release. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)