The emblematic architect of the Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, leaves his mandate for personal reasons. The Dutch government is proposing a replacement, closely observed by associations, because of his past with the oil company Shell. The European Parliament will vote on this candidacy on Monday evening, October 2.
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Is the European Green Deal, this set of very ambitious texts for the planet, in danger? The European Parliament must decide on the appointment of a new “Mr. Climate”, while the Commission announced on Tuesday August 22 the resignation of the project manager of this ambitious project, Frans Timmermans. He is ending his mandate to lead a Social Democratic-Green list for the Dutch parliamentary elections in November.
NGOs mobilized for weeks
The ex-diplomat is leaving, while in Europe, and in particular on the right, many are calling for a curb on environmental measures, to protect households and businesses. It is in this context that the European Parliament must validate the candidacy of its replacement, the Dutchman Wopke Hoekstra, for the post of European Commissioner responsible for climate. His hearing before the MEPs, meeting in Strasbourg at the end of the day, promises to be tense due in particular to his past with the oil giant Shell.
“Appointing a former Shell executive means burying the Green Deal”, denounce many environmental NGOs mobilized for weeks against this appointment. A petition gathered more than 100,000 signatures and, last week, the Rise For Climate association organized a mock funeral in front of the Commission, with a coffin, funeral music and wreath laying. Larry Moffet, an organizer, laments: “It’s irresponsible, it’s purely electoral on the part of the government of the Netherlands.”
“If Ursula von der Leyen wants to save her Green Deal, she should think twice before accepting this appointment.”
Larry Moffettat franceinfo
A fine negotiator but on the right
But for the president of the European CommissionWopke Hoesktra’s government experience is an asset: he was Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Netherlands but also of Finance, it is a CV considered very useful as a future EU negotiator at the COP and while the Financing the ecological transition is a crucial subject.
But his political commitment to the right is also a source of concern in Parliament. During his hearing, “he will have to give very concrete guarantees of his adherence to our ecological agenda”, underlines an internal source. In a press release, the European Greens call on the future commissioner to ensure that the Green Deal crosses the finish line. There are only eight months left before the next term and around forty legislative texts to complete.