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Strasbourg – The EU Parliament approves the new EU Commission with 370 votes to 282.
Former Swedish EU Minister Jessika Roswall is given responsibility for the environment and water resilience in the new EU Commission, which takes office from December 1.
“It feels very good. These are turbulent times, and it’s very pleasing to have such clear support from the Parliament. We are all very ready to start and are truly at the starting blocks,” says Roswall.
Her first task as a commissioner will be on Sunday when she travels to Saudi Arabia for a conference on water issues. On Tuesday, she will then be thrown into challenging compromise negotiations between the EU Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers regarding a one-year postponement of the EU’s controversial new regulations against deforestation of rainforests.
“Extremely important that we come to a conclusion and reach an agreement before Christmas,” says the incoming Environment Commissioner.
The voting numbers in the Parliament were a record narrow. Only a margin of 88 votes for Ursula von der Leyen’s new assembly is less than any other EU Commission has previously been supported with.
On the Swedish yes-side in Wednesday’s vote were the Moderates, Christian Democrats, Centre Party, Liberals, and Social Democrats. The Green Party abstained.
On the no-side were the Left Party and the Sweden Democrats.
“It is the most right-wing commission we have ever seen,” says Jonas Sjöstedt (V).
(November 27)
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