- Commissioner hearings to take place 4-12 November 2024
- With key climate-related roles distributed among the three major political groups (EPP, S&D, Renew) and strong decarbonisation focus in mission letters, there are strong climate action footholds in the incoming Commission
- The hearings provide an opportunity for MEPs to address some of the remaining gaps, weaknesses and unclarities for a successful European climate agenda
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What’s at stake in the EU Commissioner hearings
- Will the new Clean Industrial Deal secure Europe’s industrial future and tech leadership? The incoming Commission plans to accelerate the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries and boost the manufacturing of clean technologies. The focus on electrifying industrial processes in the mission letters marked a step forward from Von der Leyen’s guidelines. During the hearings, MEPs have the chance to push for a stronger social focus and better governance structures in the industrial policy agenda and ensure sustainability takes centre stage in updated public procurement rules.
- Will the next Commission deliver on increased energy security through affordable renewable energy sources, improved connectivity and flexible demand? Jørgensen’s mission letter prioritizes strengthening Europe’s energy independence by phasing out fossil fuels, stopping imports from Russia, and expanding grids. It aims to ensure citizens benefit from the clean energy shift, addressing energy poverty and emphasising efficiency. The hearings are an opportunity to deepen the focus on energy efficiency, sufficiency and demand reduction, with increased benefits for Europe’s energy security and strategic autonomy.
- Does the new policy agenda ensure that all Europeans benefit from the green transition, while protecting them from climate impacts and inflation, and providing support amid the EU’s industrial transformation? The combined energy and housing portfolio have the potential for citizens to reap all the benefits of a decarbonised building stock. While the action plan to implement the social rights pillar shows promise, a clear vision is still needed. The promised “significant increase“ of funding for a just transition in the political guidelines is absent in the mission letters of the Commissioners responsible for budget and just transition. The hearings should clarify how fairness will be ensured in the transition, including through social conditions tied to subsidies.
- Will the next Commission seize the geopolitical advantages of leading the global green transition and defending rules-based cooperation? The new team of Commissioners is well placed to renew the EU’s climate and green energy diplomacy amidst turbulent geopolitics. The explicit mandate to build on the COP28 goals of tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency improvements is very positive but needs a stronger link to ending fossil fuel production and consumption . The new Clean Trade and Investment Partnerships, alongside an enhanced Global Gateway initiative, can place the EU again as the trusted partner of choice for other countries’ clean economy transitions and mend some of the pushback towards CBAM or the Deforestation Regulation. The hearings will be a key moment to clarify the EU’s commitment to international climate finance, global adaptation and resilience efforts, as well as the EU’s plans to continue leading the Paris Agreement negotiations by example. MEPs should also assess whether the external affairs Commissioners fully acknowledge the security and geopolitical risks posed by climate impacts.
- Does the Commission have a clear plan to increase private and public investment for Europe’s and global climate challenges? The mission letters include ideas for increasing private and public investment, notably by exploring new revenue sources and scaling up sustainable finance, transition finance and climate resilience investments. While the new Commission brands itself as an “Investment Commission,” the budget Commissioner’s mission letter and answers lack a detailed plan to align the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) with climate goals and address investment shortfalls. The hearings will be key to clarifying how the MFF can be targeted toward climate mitigation and adaptation to fill the investment gap while avoiding harmful spending, while ensuring the EU remains a global leader in international climate finance provision and mobilisation.
- Will the next Commission ensure a clear path toward climate neutrality and resilience? Decarbonisation remains a central objective in Von der Leyen’s political guidelines, mission letters, and written answers: the next Commission wants to enshrine a 90% climate target into EU law and place decarbonisation at the heart of industrial policy with the Clean Industrial Deal. This offers clarity, predictability and stability for businesses, investors and authorities. However, the hearings will need to clarify how governance mechanisms like the European Semester and new proposals like the Competitiveness Coordination Tool and a reformed MFF can ensure consistent progress toward climate and social goals.
Quotes
Vincent Hurkens, Programme Lead, E3G said:
“Europe’s climate policy priorities for the next five years are taking shape: the incoming Commission is well-positioned to continue the European Green Deal and address increasingly severe climate impacts. Before the new Commission takes office, MEPs have the opportunity to seek clarifications and push for improvements, particularly in securing adequate funding and ensuring the fairness of the green transition.”
Jurei Yada, Director, E3G said:
“We will not succeed in delivering Europe’s transition to sustainability and prosperity if we do not enable the necessary public and private investments – the big question for Commissioners will be the ‘how’ given tough political realities. For Commissioner-designate Serafin, MEPs should push for clarity on how the next EU budget will fully support the European public goods needed for Europe’s green transition and avoid any harmful spending. On private finance, Commissioner-designate Albuquerque’s commitment to scale up the EU’s sustainable, transition and resilience finance is encouraging, but missing concretes on how to do so without over-simplifying the existing framework. MEPs should press on this and ask how simplification can be balanced with maintaining the EU’s ambition.”
Luke O’Callaghan-White, Programme Lead, E3G said:
“Commissioner-designate Jørgensen’s written answers to MEP questions are encouraging, and emphasise his focus on electrification, efficiency, the phase-out of Russian energy imports, and lower energy prices for industry and households. However, more detail is needed on how the next Commission will deliver on these energy priorities. The MEP hearings will provide a valuable opportunity to gain further clarity on key pledges, such as the Electrification Action Plan.”
Domien Vangenechten, Programme Lead, E3G said:
“As Commissioner-designate Ribera said, the Clean Industrial Deal should build synergies for prosperity, competitiveness, decarbonisation and social fairness. The hearings are an opportunity for MEPs to ask more details on how this initiative will accelerate industrial decarbonisation and electrification, increase the uptake of clean technologies and enhance material efficiency for the benefit of companies, workers and citizens.”
Ignacio Arróniz Velasco, Senior Policy Advisor, E3G said:
“The new Commission will face a very turbulent and unstable world, worsened by devastating climate impacts. Commissioner-designate Hoekstra shows good willingness to continue leading global climate action, both by setting an ambitious example and through partnering with others. The HR/VP-designate Kallas is also clear-eyed about the need to build comprehensive win-win partnerships to ensure Europeans’ interests. MEPs now have an opportunity to ask how these commitments will translate into a new EU Nationally Determined Contribution ahead of COP30, more international climate finance, a systematic approach to adaptation and resilience, and a genuine, integrated offer to support partners’ transitions.”
– ENDS –
Stéphane Séjourné
> Domien Vangenechten – E3G Programme Lead (EN, NL)
domien.vangenechten@e3g.org | + 32 (0) 474 871 827
> Vincent Hurkens – E3G Programme Lead (EN, NL, FR)
Vincent.hurkens@e3g.org | +32 (0) 494 584 829
Teresa Ribera
> Ignacio Arróniz Velasco – E3G Senior Policy Advisor (EN, ES, FR)
ignacio.arroniz@e3g.org | +34 (0) 689 768 246
> Vincent Hurkens – E3G Programme Lead (EN, NL, FR)
Vincent.hurkens@e3g.org | +32 (0) 494 584 829
> Domien Vangenechten – E3G Programme Lead (EN, NL)
domien.vangenechten@e3g.org | + 32 (0) 474 871 827
Kaja Kallas
> Ignacio Arróniz Velasco – E3G Senior Policy Advisor (EN, ES, FR)
ignacio.arroniz@e3g.org | +34 (0) 689 768 246
Dan Jorgensen
> Luke O’Callaghan-White – E3G Programme Lead (EN)
luke.ocallaghanwhite@e3g.org | +32 (0) 49 52 94 331
Wopke Hoekstra
> Domien Vangenechten – E3G Programme Lead (EN, NL)
domien.vangenechten@e3g.org | + 32 (0) 474 871 827
> Vincent Hurkens – E3G Programme Lead (EN, NL, FR)
Vincent.hurkens@e3g.org | +32 (0) 494 584 829
Maroš Šefčovič
> Johanna Lehne – E3G Associate Director (EN, DE)
Johanna.Lehne@e3g.org | +44 (0) 770 848 6383
Valdis Dombrovskis
> Jurei Yada – E3G Director (EN, PL, JP, FR)
Jurei.Yada@e3g.org | +32 (0) 492 113 868
> Vincent Hurkens – E3G Programme Lead (EN, NL, FR)
Vincent.hurkens@e3g.org | +32 (0) 494 584
Maria Luis Albuquerque
> Jurei Yada – E3G Director (EN, PL, JP, FR)
Jurei.Yada@e3g.org | +32 (0) 492 113 868
> Artur Patuleia – Senior Associate (EN, PT, NL)
Artur.Patuleia@e3g.org
Piotr Serafin
> Jurei Yada – E3G Director (EN, PL, JP, FR)
Jurei.Yada@e3g.org | +32 (0) 492 113 868
Dubravka Suica
> Richard Smith – E3G Policy Advisor (EN, FR)
Richard.Smith@e3g.org | +32 490000515
Notes to Editors
- E3G is an independent climate change think tank with a global outlook. We work on the frontier of the climate landscape, tackling the barriers and advancing the solutions to a safe climate. Our goal is to translate climate politics, economics and policies into action. Climate in the European Union – E3G
- For further enquiries email press@e3g.org or phone +32 (0) 497 49 69 68
- Stay Updated: Register for our new EU journalist WhatsApp briefing service to receive updates and analysis around the Commissioner hearings. If you’d like to join, please message Isabel Syrek, E3G Senior Communications Officer at +32 (0) 497 49 69 68. Please ensure you save this number to your contacts, otherwise, you won’t be able to receive the updates..