?ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

As we brace for another Trump term, it seems Commission President von der Leyen (VDL) is now facing fresh battles from the EU Parliament over the Commissioner hearings. Securing the crucial majorities needed to get her?incoming colleagues into office is proving harder than it should be.?

In a world growing more uncertain by the day, the EU must step up and scale up as the global leader on climate and environmental policy. We need the pro-EU majority in Parliament to rise to the challenge and act as a source of stability and leadership in world that really needs it. Our message is clear: end the political theatre and take decisive action to tackle the climate, biodiversity, and pollution crises—before it’s too late.?

Europe cannot afford petty games when what we urgently need is a strong and dependable political and economic framework. With potentially four turbulent years ahead across the Atlantic, the time step up is now: the new Commission must be in place and working without delay!

First things first. But before diving into this week’s (and some of last week's) Commissioner hearings and our takes, we need to highlight a shocking move in?Parliament that must not be repeated. Instead of prioritising stability, the Conservative EPP—backed by far-right allies breaking and the cordon sanitaire—gutted the EU Deforestation Law, weakening essential due diligence measures designed to keep deforestation-linked products out of the EU market. A very bad omen, and not a good look for Manfred Weber.?

Originally intended to sever the link between European demand and global deforestation—which accounts for roughly 10% of global forest loss—the law covers key commodities like beef, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soy, and wood. By watering down the law and introducing a "no risk" category for certain countries, the EPP has effectively given the green light to further forest destruction, undermining our global forests, the climate, responsible businesses, citizens, and trust in EU decision-making.?No bueno, and the timing could not be worse!?#WeHadADeal

???WHAT’S NEXT? (MORE) COMMISSONER HEARINGS?

?? Ribera - Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition (S&D)?

HURDLES IN THE HEARINGS — Teresa Ribera , nominated to become the EU’s second most powerful woman in VDL's Commission, is facing resistance during her confirmation process, alongside several other candidates for the (Executive) Vice President roles. The approval process has been delayed, and the political wrangling has raised genuine concerns about the impact of this hold-up, particularly at a time when swift action is needed on pressing geopolitical and environmental challenges. ?

We urge the EU Parliament to focus on the big picture and avoid further delays that could affect the stability of EU institutions. Despite a?challenging hearing, Ribera delivered a good performance, highlighting the essential link between Europe’s economic future and sustainability.?She emphasised the need for decarbonisation and a circular economy to drive competitiveness, also stating that, "it's not enough to preserve what we have. We also need to work hard to restore." This message resonated well at the EEB, particularly given the hard-fought battle for the Nature Restoration Law. ?

However, her vision still requires concrete strategies for energy diversification and sustainable job creation to ensure long-term benefits for future generations.?

??? Séjourné - Executive Vice President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy (Renew)?

WAITING — Stéphane Séjourné, designate Executive Vice President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, delivered a smooth performance at his hearing , advocating for industrial growth aligned with green goals. Yet, his focus on economic ‘catch-up’ with the U.S. raised doubts about his commitment to environmental priorities. While he announced plans to support clean-tech and decarbonisation, his response to environmental and social conditionalities was vague, raising concerns that economic interests might come at the expense of environmental integrity. Séjourné’s nod to banning PFAS in consumer products was a welcome start, but his silence on industrial use left many unconvinced.?

?? Serafin - Budget, Anti-Fraud, and Public Administration (EPP)?

NAVIGATING BATTLE LINES — Piotr Serafin, Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud, and Public Administration, has already received his approval, positioning himself as a budgetary hawk with a no-nonsense approach. Emphasising the need for local EU bodies to play a central role in budget allocation, he pledged support for a Covid-recovery model that keeps local partners involved. However, he remained cautious on defence funding—a contentious issue well beyond his mandate—leaving specifics to future negotiations.?

?? Dombrovskis - Economy and Productivity (EPP)?

COMPROMISING —?Likewise, Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, cleared his hearing and is poised to oversee investment coordination, pledging to streamline EU regulations to make business easier for smaller enterprises. He emphasised that cutting bureaucratic hurdles would remain a priority without compromising the EU’s environmental and social standards.?

?? Fitto - Executive Vice President for Cohesion and Reforms (ECR)?

ON HOLD —?Raffaele Fitto, designate Executive Vice President for Cohesion and Reforms, faced grilling from left-leaning lawmakers over his ties to Italy’s very-much-not-centrist-far right?Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Fitto assured Parliament that his allegiance lay with the EU, not national interests. Despite his steady composure, the performance is unlikely to quell the scepticism of socialist, green, and liberal lawmakers who are wary of his alignment with far right-leaning agendas.?

???A CLIMATE OF HYPOCRISY: COP 29?

BAD COP — Azerbaijan is the least democratic state in Europe, actively targeting journalists, independent media outlets, political and civic activists, and human rights defenders… It is also host to the “COP of Peace.” With a chief executive of this years’ meeting recently exposed for using it as a COP-portunity to push oil deals (following in the footsteps of some of his predecessors), the UN climate process is beginning to look like a bad joke on the international stage. ?

GOOD COP —?Standing up for environmental defenders is at the heart of the EEB's mission. We were honoured to participate in the second European Anti-SLAPP Conference , co-organised by CASE (Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom , and the Council of Europe. This event highlighted new legal tools to counter lawsuits aimed at silencing activists. For more highlights, follow #AntiSLAPPCon on social media .?

???THE HOWL FOR HELP GET'S LOUDER... AND LOUDER... AND LOUDER!?

IN A RUSH FOR NO REASON?—?Advanced in September 2023 under VDL, the downgrade of the wolf's protection status was rushed through with only an 18-day public consultation, falling well short of the EU's standards for fair consultation, according to ClientEarth (and qualifying as a potential case of citizenwashing , according to us). ClientEarth have since lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman, who will investigate whether this hasty process jeopardises regulatory integrity—particularly as a majority of rural Europeans and over 300 organisations continue to support strong protections for wolves.?

NOT A GOOD MOVE —?The Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe (LCIE) joined the outcry , calling the proposal “premature and flawed.” They argue that existing regulations already allow for responsible wolf management, including culling when necessary, and stress that livestock losses remain manageable. Downgrading protections, they warn, risks widening social divides rather than solving them. LCIE’s message is clear: any changes must be based on solid science, not political agendas.?

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By:?Annick Hus . Special thanks to the EEB's editorial team:?Alberto Vela ,?Ben Snelson ,?Ruby Silk ?and?Roi Gomez . Editor: Christian Skrivervik