After months of deliberation and political maneuvering, the European Parliament has given its approval to Ursula von der Leyen’s team for her second term as President of the European Commission. The process, which began with the European elections in June, involved intense negotiations and evaluations that highlighted the shifting dynamics of European politics.  Between 4 and 12 November, Parliament conducted 26 public hearings totaling 72 hours. During these sessions, nominees for European Commissioners outlined their priorities in written statements and faced rigorous questioning from lawmakers.

For the first time since 1999, no Commissioner nominee was rejected, fueling speculation about a “package deal” among major political groups. After resolving the final seven pending nominations on 27 November, the Parliament approved the full College of Commissioners, comprising 26 members, including six Executive Vice Presidents. The new team officially assumed office on 1 December, marking the beginning of a pivotal term for the European Union.

This outcome reflects the evolving political landscape in Europe, setting the stage for the Commission’s work in the coming years.

The newly appointed European Commissioners have outlined their priorities for the next term, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, climate action, and industrial competitiveness.

Teresa Ribera (🇪🇸) – EVP for Clean Transition & Competition

• Prioritised implementing existing EU green policies and accelerating climate action within and beyond the EU.
• Committed to achieving the 2040 climate target of a 90% net greenhouse gas emissions reduction, paving the way for carbon neutrality by mid-century.
• Promised clear direction for businesses transitioning to sustainability – simplifying regulatory frameworks to expedite renewable energy projects and industrial decarbonisation.
• Highlighted preparing the EU for more frequent natural disasters as a key priority.
• Provided limited details on competition reforms and the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal.
• Avoided committing to EU funding for nuclear energy.

Committed to: 2040 Climate Target, Clean Industrial Deal, Circular Economy Act, and Water Resilience Strategy.

Stéphane Séjourné (🇫🇷) – EVP for Prosperity & Industrial Strategy 

• Emphasised simultaneous decarbonisation and industrialisation:“We must decarbonise and industrialise simultaneously. There is no industry without decarbonisation, and there will be no decarbonisation without industry”. 
• Acknowledged inefficiencies in the current regulatory process for managing hazardous substances, particularly the prolonged timelines for decisions on substances like PFAS.
• Pledged reforms to support SMEs and improve EU public procurement processes with sustainability and resilience criteria.
• Committed to unifying fragmented EU markets into a stronger single market.

Committed to: Clean Industrial Deal, Circular Economy Act and Chemicals Industry Package.

Jessika Roswall (🇸🇪) – Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience & Circular Economy

• Claimed commitment to aligning economic competitiveness with a clean transition.
• Highlighted creating a single market for secondary materials and harmonising EU waste management systems.
• Stressed the importance of preparing for climate events like floods and water scarcity but lacked specifics.
• Highlighted creating a single market for secondary materials and harmonising EU waste management systems.
• Provided little clarity on biodiversity funding, Ecodesign regulation product groups, or a timeline for banning PFAS in consumer products.

 Committed to: Circular Economy Act, Single Market for Waste, and Water Resilience Strategy.

Wopke Hoekstra (🇳🇱) – Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero & Clean Growth 

• Vowed no rollback on existing green policies and supported a 2040 climate target of a 90% reduction.
• Promised measures to ensure major polluters pay, with an emphasis on equitable taxation.
• Highlighted the importance of making the green transition socially fair, though with few concrete strategies.
• Declined to specify if removals would be included in EU carbon markets.
• Left open the possibility of proposing legislation on climate resilience if deemed necessary.

Committed to: 2040 Climate Target and Taxation for the Clean Economy Transition.