The hearings for the new European Commission are coming up, with several relevant candidates for the solar heat industry. On 17 September, President Ursula von der Leyen submitted her list of candidates as Commissioners, who must now be confirmed by the Parliament and the Council. The most important step of this process are the hearings by the European Parliament, which will take place from 4 to 12 November in Brussels. Indeed, before the validation vote of the Commission during the plenary session in Strasbourg – this is foreseen to take place from 13 November, depending on the decisions of the relevant Committees – the proposed candidates must appear before the Parliamentary Committees responsible for their portfolio to be assessed on their suitability to perform their duties. This will be a crucial moment to understand the vision of the Commissioner-designates on the energy transition.
Among the 26 candidates, four are particularly relevant to the solar thermal sector. To begin, Teresa Ribera Rodriguez (S&D), who was the Spanish Minister for Ecological Transition between 2018 and 2024, will oversee actions related to the Clean, Just and Competitive transition, as an Executive Vice-President of the Commission. Stéphane Séjourné (Renew Europe), former French Minister of Foreign Affairs, is also nominated for the role of Executive Vice-President, and his portfolio will contain Prosperity and Industrial Strategy. For the solar thermal industry, Dan Jørgensen (S&D), former Danish Minister for Climate and Energy, will be a key player since he is the proposed candidate responsible for Energy and Housing. Last but not least, Wopke Hoekstra (EPP), former Dutch Finance Minister, maintains his position as Commissioner for Net Zero and Clean Growth.
Timetable for the hearings
- 5 November from 14.30 to 17.30: Dan Jørgensen
- 7 November from 9.00 to 12.00: Wopke Hoekstra
- 12 November from 14.30 to 17.30: Stéphane Séjourné
- 12 November from 18.30 to 21.30: Teresa Ribera
Solar heat is part of the written questions to the Commissioner-designates
Before the hearings, Members of the European Parliament had to send written questions to the interviewed Commissioner-designates, to which the candidates must reply before appearing in front of the committees. Several questions are related to the solar thermal market, heating and cooling topics, and energy efficiency.
For instance, Teresa Ribera is questioned on the State aid strategy related to the promotion of the roll-out of clean and renewable energy sources. Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner in charge of Energy and Housing, is directly asked about the role that he foresees for solar heating and district heating. The European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) also wants him to explain his position on the implementation of the energy efficiency first principle, concept introduced in the EED Directive. The answers of the Commissioner-designates will give us a first insight into the potential opportunities for solar thermal technologies in the upcoming mandate.
What to expect from this new Commission?
The priorities of Von der Leyen’s new Commission are outlined in the Political Guidelines published in July and in the individual Mission Letters sent to each Commissioner-Designate. First, President von der Leyen wants to present a Clean Industrial Deal in the first 100 days. Ribera, Hoekstra and Séjourné will be responsible for this Act,
Overall, the competitiveness of the European industry will be the main priority of the second term of President Von der Leyen, and the climate transition will have to be instrumental to it. While the Green Deal has always been also an industrial strategy, this approach is partially different from the previous term when the primary objective was decarbonisation itself. This shift is a result of the higher influence gained by centre-right and right-wing parties in the Parliament after the European elections in June.
About Solar Heat Europe/ESTIF:
Solar Heat Europe/ESTIF’s mission is to promote solar heat as a key technology for the decarbonisation of heating and cooling in Europe and to realise the high potential of solar heat in the energy transition. With members in more than 15 European countries, Solar Heat Europe members cover different parts of the value chain, being based in countries as diverse as Finland or Cyprus.
Contact:
| Valérie Séjourné Managing Director valerie.sejourne@solarheateurope.eu Tel: +32 471 34 19 24 | Anna Ledro Communications and Events Officer anna.ledro@solarheateurope.eu Tel: +32 2 318 40 59 |