New environment commissioner gets the nod after parliamentary stand-off

Swedish conservative Jessika Roswell has cleared the final main hurdle on her path to turning into the EU’s new commissioner for surroundings, water resilience and round economic system, after receiving adequate backing from political teams within the European Parliament regardless of an unconvincing efficiency in a public listening to.

The information got here late Wednesday afternoon (6 November) after the final of three rounds of discussions between coordinators for the assorted political teams, held behind closed doorways in Brussels.

The ultimate spherical was in parallel with an obvious standoff over the affirmation of the Belgian liberal Hadja Lahbib as commissioner for preparedness, disaster administration and equality, sparking accusations of a political quid professional quo.

The centre-right EPP group had vocally endorsed the Swedish commissioner-designate instantly after the listening to on Tuesday evening, however with solely the hard-right ECR group providing further assist, the choice was postponed till the next day.

In the long run, Roswell’s appointment was opposed solely the far-right Patriots for Europe and Europe of Sovereign Nations, and the Left group on the different finish of the political spectrum. Lahbib’s affirmation was introduced nearly concurrently.

Roswall mentioned in a social media put up that she was “grateful and pleased concerning the broad assist from the European Parliament’s surroundings committee”.

Though some expressed doubts about imprecise solutions within the listening to and questioned her resolve in gentle of her political background, inexperienced teams in Brussels reacted in the primary positively to her promise to defend a raft of environmental laws adopted beneath the outgoing first von der Leyen Fee.

“It’s encouraging to see a dedication to remain the course on the European Inexperienced Deal, together with finalising the Soil Monitoring Legislation, updating the checklist of precedence water pollution, and delivering the Water Resilience Technique as quickly as potential,” mentioned Sergiy Moroz, head of water and biodiversity coverage on the European Environmental Bureau.

“We additionally welcome the emphasis on implementing and imposing present laws, such because the Water Framework Directive, Nature Directives, and the Nature Restoration Legislation,” Moroz added, whereas cautioning a deliberate drive to simplify EU environmental and chemical substances laws “should not be used as a pretext to weaken these protections”.

The marketing campaign group Zero Waste Europe was notably centered on the round economic system facet of her Roswall’s new portfolio, voicing concern about her speak of scaling up a European marketplace for secondary uncooked supplies similar to recycled plastics. “Whereas very important, this scale-up can’t imply chopping corners on high quality and toxic-free requirements,” head of coverage Aline Maigret informed Euronews, additionally pointing to a scarcity of dedication to chop waste at supply by regulating supplies use.

Political group leaders are resulting from formallty endorse the candidates that go their committee hearings on 21 November. Offering the method shouldn’t be derailed by a rejection – and Hungarian Olivér Várhelyi was yesterday requested to submit additional written solutions after failing to persuade final evening – the brand new Fee as a complete will want the inexperienced gentle from MEPs in a full plenary vote on the finish of the month whether it is to take workplace in December.