Following the European Parliament elections in June, the new European Commission is now in the final stages of being formed. From 4 to 12 November, the Commissioners-designate, formally presented by President Ursula von der Leyen, will be subject to hearings in the European Parliament in Brussels. Each candidate will be assessed for three hours by the parliamentary committees responsible for their portfolio. If approved, the full College of Commissioners will be voted on by the European Parliament in plenary session on 27 November in Strasbourg, following a presentation and discussion with President von der Leyen and her team.
Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “The hearings for the Commissioners-designate are an important moment for European democracy. Members of the European Parliament will thoroughly assess the competence, independence and European commitment of each candidate before voting on the entire College. Democracy does not accept half measures. With a new term of office comes new expectations. Citizens rightly demand solutions to their concerns. The European Parliament will continue to play its role in ensuring that our European Union delivers.”
The bioenergy sector is following these hearings closely, with a special focus on the key candidates who will shape policies that will impact the sector. The following Commissioners-designate are expected to play a central role:
Dan Jørgensen (Denmark, Energy and Housing), Wopke Hoekstra (Netherlands, Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth), Teresa Ribera Rodríguez (Spain, Clean, Just and Competitive Transition) and Christophe Hansen (Luxembourg, Agriculture and Food). Finally, Jessika Roswall (Sweden, Environment, Water Resilience and Circular Economy), who has already expressed her ambitions regarding the EU Bioeconomy Strategy.
If the new College of Commissioners is approved, a “Clean Industrial Deal” is expected within the first 100 days. This agreement will include new climate targets for 2040 and a revision of the EU Climate Law. This framework will play a key role in defining the contribution of bioenergy to the European climate objectives.
Source: European Parliament en BioEnergy Europe
