After both candidates, Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate Action and Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of the European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, failed to secure the 2/3rd majority needed to be confirmed, Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), Chair of ENVI, holds a press conference explaining the results of the new hearings.

Strasbourg

press conference

CANFIN, Pascal (Renew, FR)

Renew Europe

Press conference by Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), Chair of ENVI, on the hearings of Commissioner-designate Hoekstra and Commission Executive Vice-President Šefčovič

SOUNDBITE (English), Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), Chair of ENVI, Good morning to all. So just out of the coordinators meeting where we found a two thirds majority from EPP to Greens, so EPP, the Renew SNP and Greens without ECR, ID and Left to support the nomination of both Mr. &Scaron;efčovič and Mr. Hoekstra. So this morning, as expected, we received the answers to the written questions we shared yesterday we asked the Commission.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), Chair of ENVI, And we had clear answers on something which was rather frustrating yesterday on Mr. Šefčovič hearing, regarding the timeline of the pending legislative proposals. Okay, yesterday, during the hearings, many times we asked questions regarding pending things like animal welfare, microplastics and so on and so.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), Chair of ENVI, We had no satisfactory answers. Now, in their written questions, there is a clear timeline. I guess you have already seen these written answers. But in a nutshell, I am not going to read all the lists provided by the Commission, but maybe focusing on the microplastics or the regulation on microplastics for October, this month. The protection of animals during transport, so only focusing on transport, in December.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), Chair of ENVI, And the regulation on forest monitoring in November. And then other non-legislative communication on carbon storage, but it was more or less announced already. So the concrete new elements that make a difference from now compared to yesterday, is this a response to the question number two on the specific timeline regarding the key legislative files.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), Chair of ENVI, And we got an answer on them. Then regarding Mr. Hoekstra, and Mr. Šefčovič as well, regarding the 2040 target. Of course, we had the same wording that was done of at least 90% that they will defend. So it's not a commitment of the Commission, but it's a commitment to defend that at least 90% target of CO2 reductions in the 2040 context. And also, we had more clarity regarding what he will do on the transparency issue.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), Chair of ENVI, He responded positively to the fact that he will ask McKinsey to provide him and then, of course, to go public with the list of the missions he made during his career at McKinsey. And we had also an answer from Mr. Šefčovič on the sensitive issue of what he will say in Bratislava on energy independence from Russia. And he said clearly that in all 27 capitals, he will say the same thing, including when is in Bratislava.

SOUNDBITE (English), Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), Chair of ENVI, So, uh, I think it helped a lot to bring more clarity. And that's why this morning we had this two thirds majority from EPP to Greens, or from Greens to EPP. Thank you.

Q&A, Question about the work done by one of the candidates with McKinsey and Shell companies.

Q&A, Question regarding the animal welfare initative.

Q&A, Question regarding the apparent softening up of the Commission position regarding ending caged animals in the EU.

Q&A, Question about the REACH and Sustainable Food Systems proposal progress.