2023-08-22 16:07:50
Frans Timmermans
The Dutchman is considered the most important climate policy voice of the EU Commission.
(Photo: AP)
Brussels The Social Democrat Frans Timmermans will lead a red-green coalition as the top candidate in the Dutch parliamentary elections at the end of the year. This was announced by the Labor Party and the Greens after a membership vote on Tuesday. Timmermans was the sole candidate, receiving 91.8 percent of the vote.
The return to national politics means that Timmermans will have to resign as vice-president of the European Commission. Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) not only loses one of her three deputies, but also the most important climate policy voice of her authority.
The Dutchman had been implementing the EU’s central project, the “Green Deal”, since 2019. This is a set of laws intended to put Europe on the path to climate neutrality.
Most recently, Timmermans had brought the law for the restoration of nature through the European Parliament with great personal commitment – against the resistance of the European People’s Party (EPP) led by Manfred Weber (CSU).
His duties will now be temporarily taken over by other commissioners. In the medium term, the Dutch government must send a replacement to Brussels.
Greens fear a setback for climate policy
However, it may be several months before the new person can start work. Personnel decisions in the multi-party coalition in The Hague usually take a while, and then the successor would have to be confirmed by the Commission and the European Parliament.
The Greens in particular fear that without Timmermans, climate policy in Brussels will become less important. In addition to the conservatives in the European Parliament, several heads of government recently called for a regulatory break. With a view to the European elections in June 2024, von der Leyen is now setting other priorities.
>> Read here: EPP boss Weber fails with summer revolt against Green Deal
A number of climate policy decisions still have to be made before the European elections. The renaturation law is to be finally negotiated between member states, the Commission and Parliament.
The EU has yet to agree on a climate target for 2040. So far, it has committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030. By 2050 it should be 100 percent. Now it’s about how ambitious the interim goal is.
Who will represent the EU at COP28?
The world climate conference COP28 is also scheduled for autumn. Timmermans has been one of the most influential players on the forum in recent years. His connections will be missing now.
The Dutch general election will take place on November 22nd. Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s liberal-conservative coalition broke up in July over a dispute over migration policy. Rutte, Finance Minister Sigrid Kaag and Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra have announced their withdrawal from politics.
In polls, the red-green alliance is neck and neck with Rutte’s Liberals and the BBB peasant movement. So Timmermans could return to the European stage as head of government.
More: EU Deputy Timmermans wants to become Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
#Frans #Timmermans #loses #important #climate #politician