Wopke Hoekstra arrives at the Binnenhof for the Council of Ministers in The Hague, Netherlands July 14, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights
BRUSSELS, Sept 19 (Reuters) – Lawmakers in the European Parliament plan to grill Wopke Hoekstra, nominated to be the EU’s next climate-change chief, regarding phasing out fossil fuels and a new emissions target for 2040, a document seen by Reuters showed.
Hoekstra, a former Dutch foreign minister, has the backing of the Dutch government and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen to become the European Union’s next Climate Commissioner – taking over the running of emissions-cutting policies in the world’s third-largest economy.
Some lawmakers have said Hoekstra will need to prove his readiness to lead climate policymaking because that topic was not the focus of his previous roles as a foreign minister and finance minister.
It is not uncommon, however, for EU commissioners to take on a new portfolio they have not had before, and work with the EU’s civil service to get up to speed.
In any case, Hoekstra must first pass a European Parliament hearing. Negative assessments by lawmakers have prompted some commissioner candidates to withdraw in the past.
A document seen by Reuters showed the questions EU lawmakers have put to Hoekstra ahead of his hearing, revealing the issues they plan to test him on.
