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According to Von der Leyen, Lahbib will have to manage crises at the EU level effectively and oversee European humanitarian aid and the EU civil protection mechanism. “Humanitarian aid is a global issue, but also look at the consequences of climate change on our continent, such as floods and forest fires. (Lahbib) will also be responsible for the preparation for these events,” said Von der Leyen.
Lahbib is the resigning Minister of Foreign Affairs. She has only been politically active since July 2022 and was proposed as Belgian Eurocommissioner by her party chairman at the Francophone liberals, Georges-Louis Bouchez, after just a few weeks. That the MR was allowed to make the choice was agreed upon by the five parties (N-VA, MR, Les Engagés, Vooruit, CD&V) that want to form a new federal government.
In Belgium, the reactions to Lahbib’s portfolio were at best mixed. Some pointed to the fact that it took a very long time for Belgium to nominate a candidate Eurocommissioner. “Belgian dithering and haggling have unfortunately saddled us with a weak portfolio,” judged, for example, MEP Sara Matthieu of Groen. “After a particularly successful Belgian presidency, we still let ourselves be done out of a significant position. It is high time that Belgian politicians better appreciate the post of European commissioner in the future.”