On 1 October 2014, Miguel Arias Cañete, Member designate of the EC in charge of Climate Action and Energy, was heard by the Committees on Industry, Research and Energy and on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety of the European Parliament to test his general competences, European commitment and specific expertise related to his portfolio. Miguel Arias Cañete had the opportunity to make an opening statement, he took part in a question and answer session and made a closing statement. Although the Parliament can only vote on the Commission as a whole, a negative assessment of one of the candidates has in the past already led to the candidacy being withdrawn and replaced. Miguel Arias Cañete was a Member of the European Parliament sitting in the Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) in the European Parliament.

Brussels

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

statement

Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

ARIAS CAÑETE, Miguel (EPP, ES, EC)

hearing

2014 Commissioners' hearings (T)

hearing of Miguel ARIAS CAÑETE (T)

Hearing of Miguel ARIAS CAÑETE (Spain), Commissioner-designate for Climate Action and Energy: extracts from the statement by Miguel ARIAS CAÑETE

Title: Hearing of Miguel ARIAS CA&#209;ETE, Commissioner-designate in charge of Climate Action and Energy

<p>Arrival of Miguel ARIAS CA&Ntilde;ETE, Commissioner-designate in charge of Climate Action and Energy, greetings to Chair of ENVI Committee Chair Giovanni LA VIA and Jerzy BUZEK, Chair of the ITRE Committee. Atmosphere shots.</p>

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Miguel ARIAS CA&#209;ETE, Commissioner-designate in charge of Climate Action and Energy, <p>"I think that the decision to bring together climate change together with energy shows the central political importance that attaches to these two President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker. Ambitious action on climate change and sustainable energy policy are two sides of the same coin, that's why bringing both of these areas together in the responsibility of a single Commissioner will strengthen the action instruments and will give them more consistency and coherence".</p>

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Miguel ARIAS CA&#209;ETE, Commissioner-designate in charge of Climate Action and Energy, On the fact that he has not modified his declaration of interests as Commissioner-designate: "all my professional and political activities are clearly reflected in it". As for the declaration of interests as MEP, he explains he has updated it yesterday, as the circumstances contained in it have been modified due to the selling of shares from Petrologis and Ducar, as he had announce some days ago: "nor me or my direct family have any link to any of these companies, in this sense I have gone even further than what's requested by law".

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Miguel ARIAS CA&#209;ETE, Commissioner-designate in charge of Climate Action and Energy, "The EU has to play global leadership in climate action, ensuring at the same time Europe's competitiveness and with that the creation of jobs. Only in that way can we ensure that our efforts against climate change will be tangible and long-lasting ones".

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Miguel ARIAS CA&#209;ETE, Commissioner-designate in charge of Climate Action and Energy, "Europe must be the world leader number one in renewables, it's vital for fighting climate change but also if we want to create sustainable jobs and generate economic growth. I would like that the entire world would associate the word 'renewables' to the word 'Europe'"

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Miguel ARIAS CA&#209;ETE, Commissioner-designate in charge of Climate Action and Energy, "My top first priority as Commissioner will be to ensure gas supplies for this Autumn. On the 26 of September Commissioner Oettinger came forward with a proposal for an agreement between Ukraine and Russia on this to avoid a disruption to supplies."

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Miguel ARIAS CA&#209;ETE, Commissioner-designate in charge of Climate Action and Energy, "We have to reduce the energy dependency of the EU, diversifying the sources of energy and looking for new import routes; pooling our negotiating powers and ensuring that energy can flow in either two ways whenever necessary. The fast opening of the Southern-corridor will be a key element for enhancing and secure supplies".

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Miguel ARIAS CA&#209;ETE, Commissioner-designate in charge of Climate Action and Energy, He apologises again for the comments made during the electoral campaign as regards women: "It was a mistake, I am sorry. I believe firmly in equality between men and women as one of the fundamental pillars for building a fairer, more inclusive and more prosperous Europe".

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Miguel ARIAS CA&#209;ETE, Commissioner-designate in charge of Climate Action and Energy, "I firmly believe that in climate action and energy there cannot be political colours, and they cannot be opposed. No-one on earth will be unaffected by climate change; there is not a single corner of Europe, no home or firm that will be suffering its consequences and that applies to energy supply too. We cannot stand back in facing this so I ask you for your support in rising to this major challenge". Applause