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 (T)

Hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA 2023

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

Hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate Action: opening and introduction by Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR) - Chair of ENVI

Memoclip: Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner-designate for Climate Action

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

EP Plenary session - Voting session

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

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

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

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 4)

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

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

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

Hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate Action: questions and answers (part 1)

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