Confirmed by MEPs on Thursday 7 November, Wopke Hoekstra retains his post as European Commissioner, with an expanded mandate covering Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth. In addition to Climate Action, which has already been part of his portfolio since October 2023, he will place competitiveness at the centre of his expanded mandate.
In his opening speech, he stated that “there can be no competitiveness without climate protection measures, and vice versa”. The Dutchman set out the four pillars of his action: competitiveness, climate action, just transition and the international dimension, praising in passing the cooperation of MEPs in speeding up the fight against climate change.
2040 target. The Commissioner-designate was questioned by MEPs on how he intends to link the objectives of the ‘Clean Industrial Deal’ to the interim target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040. Mr Hoekstra has been tasked with drawing up a legislative proposal to enshrine this objective in European climate legislation and to prepare proposals for the post-2030 climate framework to ensure a predictable and cost-effective transition.
Although the ‘Clean Industrial Deal’ is due to be unveiled within the first 100 days of the new Commission, the Commissioner-designate cautiously avoided committing to a similar timetable for the 2040 target. In response to Michael Bloss (Greens/EFA, German), he said: “What’s important is that we set a target (...) and then apply it in reality. That’s the task ahead. It won’t happen in the first quarter or first half of the year, but it’s something we’ll be working diligently on”.
Competitiveness and Industry. Competitiveness, which is one of the main themes of the next Commission’s programme, must underpin this climate action. Mr Hoekstra, who said that climate protection and competitiveness go hand in hand, intends to build on this ‘Clean Industrial Deal’.
Asked about the future of the car industry by Silvia Sardone (PfE, Italian) and Ondřej Krutílek (ECR, Czech), Wopke Hoekstra promised to work with Apóstolos Tzitzikóstas, Commissioner-designate for Sustainable Transport and Tourism (see EUROPE 13519/9), to support manufacturers in their transition. He emphasised three key pillars: predictability, fairness and infrastructure. According to him, “car manufacturers are not asking for a change in targets, but for investment in networks and infrastructure so that they can achieve their climate objectives while ensuring the prosperity of workers”. In response to Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe, French), who suggested a Europe-wide social leasing scheme, Mr Hoekstra was open to discussion.
With regard to the steel industry, he defended autonomous and green European production. “We need a green steel industry in Europe, full stop”, he said, arguing that dependence on third countries should be avoided. The Innovation Fund, which supports this sector, will play a key role, in particular through the targeted distribution of free emissions allowances to support this transition to cleaner steel.
With regard to carbon capture and storage (CCS), Mr Hoekstra pointed out that, although CCS is crucial for heavy industry, it cannot replace direct emissions reductions. He also recognised the importance of increased funding, in particular via the Innovation Fund, and better connection of storage infrastructures, which are often cross-border, to support this technology.
Administrative burden for businesses. Lastly, he pledged to reduce the administrative burden on European businesses, particularly SMEs, while maintaining high standards. In his view, a reduction in red tape could improve innovation and competitiveness. However, he stressed that this will require close coordination with the Member States to avoid regulatory overload due to national policies.
Adaptation. Opening his hearing with a reference to the floods in Spain, Wopke Hoekstra reaffirmed his commitment to Europe-wide climate adaptation measures. Pascal Canfin asked for guarantees on the effectiveness of a future adaptation plan to avoid it becoming “an empty box”. The Dutchman replied that, if necessary, legislation would be implemented, stressing that “impact” should take precedence over legal debates. He estimates that between €60 billion and €100 billion in funding will be required for adaptation under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
He also responded to Anja Arndt (ENS, German), who felt that the EU was too ambitious on climate issues: “The science is clear: climate change spares no one. What happens elsewhere also has repercussions in Europe”, triggering applause from the assembly.
National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs). The Commissioner-designate was optimistic about the progress of Member States’ National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) (see EUROPE 13506/18), even though, on Thursday, NGOs filed complaints against several countries for failing to comply with European standards (see other news).
“A lot of good work is being done and plans are being improved”, he said, affirming the commitment of the Member States: “No country is trying to lighten the burden. Everyone is striving to achieve results”.
Climate diplomacy. The Commissioner recalled the EU’s role in mobilising other countries to tackle the remaining 94% of global emissions. In the run-up to COP29 in Azerbaijan (see EUROPE 13504/14) and COP30 in Brazil, he stressed the importance of strengthening global ambitions, in particular through carbon pricing and the implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
Just transition. Calling for a just transition, Mr Hoekstra illustrated his point: “Imagine you work in a coal plant that’s going to close; you’ll need new skills”. Asked about increasing the Just Transition Fund, he pledged to press for an increase if the current €87 billion were not enough.
Fossil fuel subsidies. Asked by Lena Schilling (Greens/EFA, Austrian) about ending subsidies for fossil fuels, Wopke Hoekstra acknowledged the complexity of the issue and pledged to promote transparency, while making it clear that the final decision remains in the hands of national finance ministers.
Taxation. Although the subject is not mentioned in his title, he drew on his experience as former Dutch finance minister and pledged his commitment to the issue. He will represent the EU at the G20 and will push as hard as he can for international tax reform on corporate taxation to be completed, particularly in the United States (see EUROPE 13506/6).
Roberts Zīle (ECR, Latvian) and Enikő Győri (PfE, Hungarian) asked his opinion on tax competition between Member States. “Many issues are blocked at the Council of the EU”, he lamented. “I really want to make progress on these issues and I hope to be able to convince the Member States that there is more to be gained by working together and that tax competition within the EU will actually lower standards”, he said.
In his view, this competition does not prevent companies from leaving the EU, whereas tax harmonisation would prevent the erosion of the tax base. Initiatives such as ‘HOT’ and ‘BEFIT’ (see EUROPE 13389/19, 13420/21) could, on the contrary, simplify bureaucracy for businesses.
Asked by Evelyn Regner (S&D, Austrian) about the possibility of a capital gains tax, he admitted that the figures on the extreme wealth of certain individuals were “scandalous”. “It is imperative to ensure that we tax fairly, and I would very much like to provide a solution”, he said. Regarding ‘Unshell’ (see EUROPE 13438/26), Mr Hoekstra undertook to discuss the matter with finance ministers and to show them that this directive is beneficial for everyone.
With two-thirds of the votes in his favour - supported by the EPP, S&D, ECR, Renew Europe and the Greens/EFA, but rejected by The Left and ENS, and an abstention from PfE because of his portfolio, according to our information - Mr Hoekstra this time had a less stormy hearing than the one in October 2023 (see EUROPE 13262/1), during which his past links with the consultancy McKinsey and the oil company Shell had raised concerns.
Although France’s Manon Aubry (The Left), in particular, raised the issue of conflicts of interest, Wopke Hoekstra defended his transparency regarding his involvement in the ‘Pandora Papers’. He explained that his investment in 2006 in an ecotourism business, via a structure in the Virgin Islands, had been examined and declared, that his assets had been liquidated and that he had donated the profits to charity. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani, Pauline Denys and Nithya Paquiry)