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Strasbourg/Stockholm – Sweden’s Jessika Roswall is proposed to take responsibility for environmental issues in the next EU Commission. Water and a ‘competitive circular economy’ are also part of the job description.
“Jessika will become the Commissioner for the Environment. She will have an important job. It is a high priority for the work we have ahead of us,” said President Ursula von der Leyen at a press conference in Strasbourg.
“Thank you Ursula! I look forward to intensive work ahead,” Roswall commented herself on X.
Previously she has been the EU minister in Sweden’s right-wing government. That she is proposed to take care of environmental issues is a surprise.
Speculation in advance has mentioned everything from responsibility for the internal market or defense to enlargement or trade.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson thinks it is gratifying.
“In her area of responsibility lies the responsibility for the important forestry issues, which are crucial for Sweden’s growth and climate transition,” he says.
According to Kristersson, better competitiveness is a vital issue for the EU, so that the union does not fall behind China and the USA.
“For the first time, the competitiveness perspective is included in the environmental portfolio. In Sweden, we merged business policy and climate policy when we took office. The Commission is now following the same path – linking business and green transition.”
(September 17)