Environment Committee MEPs assessed&nbsp;the skills, experience and suitability of Commissioner-designate for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra on 2 October. He is set to replace Frans Timmermans, who resigned on 22 August to run as a candidate in the forthcoming general elections in the Netherlands.

During his&nbsp;introductory speech, Mr Hoekstra stressed that the Green Deal lays the foundation for the EU’s green transition and underlined that it is of utmost importance to maintain continuity in the EU’s climate ambitions. He hopes to ensure this by swiftly concluding pending climate negotiations and by proposing an ambitious climate target for 2040 in the first quarter of 2024, he said. Mr Hoekstra emphasised that the EU “cannot reach climate neutrality alone”. Global cooperation and climate finance are key during the upcoming UN climate change conference&nbsp;COP28, he stressed, vowing to work “non-stop for success in Dubai”.

He underlined that building a global “Loss and Damage coalition” is crucial to raise finance for developing countries and build trust. Finally, Mr Hoekstra stressed the importance of phasing out fossil fuels, as well as fossil fuels subsidies. “The sooner fossil fuels become history, the better”, he said, as they are “counterproductive for the EU’s energy transition”.

Based on the committee’s recommendations and the assessment by the Conference of Committee Chairs, the Conference of Presidents will conduct the final evaluation and decide whether to close the hearing process and hold a plenary vote.

Hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA 2023

Wopke Hoekstra was Dutch Minister for Finance from 2017 to 2022, Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2022 to 2023 and European Commissioner for Climate Action and acting Commissioner for Transport in the von der Leyen Commission I. He is now European Commissioner-designate for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth

EP Plenary session - Voting session

Press conference on the hearings of Commissioner-designate Wopke Hoekstra and Commission Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefcovic

Press conference on the hearings of Commissioner-designate Hoekstra and Commission Executive Vice-President Šefcovic

ENVI ITRE AFET DEVE - Hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate Action

Wopke HOEKSTRA, gives a doorstep in Strasbourg (France) after his approval as Commissioner by the European Parliament. The footage shows his arrival and doorstep. The transcript is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Doorstep by Wopke HOEKSTRA, gives a doorstep in Strasbourg (France) after his approval as Commissioner by the European Parliament

MEPs vote on the on the appointment of Wopke HOEKSTRA as member of the European Commission, and on the approval of the allocation of new responsibilities of Executive Vice-President of the Commission, Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ.

Voting session: approval of the appointment of Wopke HOEKSTRA as member of the European Commission, and approval of new responsibilities of Executive Vice-President of the Commission, Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ

The Committees on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), on Foreign Affairs (AFET), on Development (DEVE) hold a joint public hearing with Mr Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate Action. HOEKSTRA has been named by the Dutch Government to substitute the former Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the file on Climate Action, Frans TIMMERMANS, who will run for the National elections in his country. Closing statement by Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate Action.

Hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate Action: closing statement by Wopke HOEKSTRA

The Committees on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), on Foreign Affairs (AFET), on Development (DEVE) hold a joint public hearing with Mr Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate Action. HOEKSTRA has been named by the Dutch Government to substitute the former Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the file on Climate Action, Frans TIMMERMANS, who will run for the National elections in his country. Second part of the Q&As.

Hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate Action: questions and answers (part 4)

Hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate Action: questions and answers (part 3)

Hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate Action: questions and answers (part 2)

The Committees on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), on Foreign Affairs (AFET), on Development (DEVE) hold a joint public hearing with Mr Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate Action. HOEKSTRA has been named by the Dutch Government to substitute the former Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the file on Climate Action, Frans TIMMERMANS, who will run for the National elections in his country. Extracts from the public hearing.

Hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate Action: extracts from the hearing

The Committees on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), on Foreign Affairs (AFET), on Development (DEVE) hold a joint public hearing with Mr Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate Action. HOEKSTRA has been named by the Dutch Government to substitute the former Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the file on Climate Action, Frans TIMMERMANS, who will run for the National elections in his country. Questions and answers (part 1).

hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA 2023 (T)

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