Following today's hearing with the environment (ENVI), transport (TRAN) and industry, research and energy (ITRE) committees, the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament confirm their strong support for vice-president Frans Timmermans to become the next EU Commissioner for European Green Deal & Climate Action.

 

 

"For his recognized and widely appreciated years of political experience, for his environmental sensitiveness and cross-cutting sectors expertise, Frans Timmermans is certainly the right person to become the next Commissioner responsible for European Green Deal & Climate Action, which is set to become the EU flagship policy. We are confident that as vice-president, Timmermans will be able to make the EU capable of playing a leading role in coping with our citizens' and young people's huge expectations over the environmental and climate challenges ahead of us.

 

"We commend Timmermans' strong commitment to ensure climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, but also to raise the ambition of our 2030 emission reduction target. The public expect to see within the first 100 days in office of this new Commission, a legislative proposal on a EU 55% GHG reduction target by 2030.

 

"The S&D Group is ready to cooperate with Timmermans and the whole of the Commission to ensure a just transition to a climate neutral Europe. Only progressive policies can at the same time sufficiently reduce climate emissions while also ensuring the transition to a socially, ecologically and economically sustainable society. No one shall be left behind."

 

 

“Frans Timmermans has once again demonstrated that he is the right person to be the vice-president responsible for the European Green Deal and Climate Action. We agree with the answers and his commitments. We, together with citizens across the EU and the thousands of young people who took to the streets, expect the EU to take leadership in implementing and enforcing current policies and in coming up with new proposals that can deliver the emission reductions we require to seriously address climate change.

 

“We require urgent action to address maritime and aviation emissions. Moreover, we need a vice-president that ensures the enforcement of existing standards for road transport and makes sure that standards will not be watered down but get stronger. Vice-president Frans Timmermans can rest assured that the S&Ds are ready to work swiftly and in a constructive manner on legislative proposals that can concretely increase the EU's GreenHouse Gas Targets in line with the EU's aim to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.”