In her opening remarks, Jessika Roswall from Sweden outlined her action plan as Commissioner-designate, including her commitment to “stay the course” on EU environmental legislation, prioritising the implementation and enforcement of the European Green Deal.
Circular economy, zero-pollution and water resilience
Jessika Roswall committed to launching a circular economy package, which will include measures to stimulate the single market for waste and recycled materials, and at the same time ensure clean sustainable production in the EU.
She also announced the intention to work on revamping the EU’s chemicals legislation (REACH), with a new chemicals industry package to be proposed in 2025, and to address PFAS (the so-called “forever chemicals”) to reduce human and environmental exposure to these harmful chemicals, including a ban on using them in consumer products.
A new EU strategy on water resilience will be one of Ms Roswall’s priorities. New measures will aim to provide clean water for all, tackle water scarcity, especially in farming, enhance EU water industry competitiveness, and address the impact of climate change. She also pledged to update the EU bioeconomy strategy and fight to secure EU funding for environmental priorities in the next multiannual financial framework (MFF).
MEPs questioned the Swedish candidate about her approach to sustainable resource use, the implementation of EU packaging rules, as well as the REACH revision and its link to human health. They also quizzed her on the zero-pollution plan, the forestry sector ,and what climate adaptation measures she would support to mitigate the increase of extreme weather events.
The possible introduction of nature credits, the full and timely implementation of nature-related legislation, especially the laws on nature restauration and deforestation, as well as the reduction of the environmental impact of agriculture were also brought up as issues by MEPs in attendance.
You can watch the video recording of the full hearing here.
Press point
At the end of the hearing, the Chair of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee, Antonio Decaro (S&D, IT), held a press point outside the meeting room: watch it here.
Next steps
The chair and political group coordinators will meet on Tuesday evening to assess the performance and qualification of the Commissioner-designate.
Based on the committee recommendations, the Conference of Presidents (EP President Metsola and political group chairs) is set to conduct the final evaluation and declare the hearings closed on 21 November. Once the Conference of Presidents declares all hearings closed, the evaluation letters will be published.
The election by MEPs of the full college of Commissioners (by a majority of the votes cast, by roll-call) is currently scheduled to take place during the 25-28 November plenary session in Strasbourg.
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