Swedish conservative Jessika Roswall has won approval to become the EU’s new environment commissioner, despite concerns raised by European Parliament members over her vague responses in committee hearings.
Robert Hodgson reports for Euronews.
In short:
- Jessika Roswall, former Swedish minister, received enough support from European Parliament groups to be appointed environment commissioner, though opposition came from both the far right and left.
- Green groups cautiously welcomed her commitment to protect environmental legislation but voiced concerns about potential compromises on waste reduction and chemicals regulation.
- The full European Parliament will vote on the commission candidates later in November, with the new Commission expected to take office by December if approved.
Key quote:
“It is encouraging to see a commitment to stay the course on the European Green Deal, including finalising the Soil Monitoring Law, updating the list of priority water pollutants, and delivering the Water Resilience Strategy as soon as possible.”
— Sergiy Moroz, head of water and biodiversity policy at the European Environmental Bureau
Why this matters:
Roswall’s position will be central to the EU’s environmental goals, including the European Green Deal and critical water resilience initiatives. Her stance on recycling standards and waste reduction will shape the EU’s approach to environmental and chemical safety, with potential implications for biodiversity and public health protections.
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