Parliament confirms Hadja Lahbib’s nomination as European Commissioner
The European Parliament has endorsed Belgian Foreign minister Hadja Lahbib’s nomination for European Commissioner, with the required two-thirds majority secured following her committee hearing on Wednesday. She will take on the Preparedness and Crisis Management and Equality portfolios.
"I'm honored to receive the trust of the Members of the European Parliament,” Lahbib said, saying that the "responsibilities that await me are equal to my motivation".
"The values of equality and solidarity have made me who I am. I will defend them with conviction," she said. "So that every European can live freely, without discrimination. To prevent and tackle crises. To guarantee our humanitarian support, in Europe and throughout the world.”
Coalition of support
Lahbib’s hearing included members from six parliamentary committees due to her portfolio’s scope. Group coordinators from four of these committees came together to decide with a coalition of support from Renew Europe, the Christian democratic EPP, the Social semocratic S&D, the Greens and the conservative ECR.
The evaluation hearings will continue through next Tuesday, covering the six candidates for vice-president of the Commission.
CD&V MEP Liesbet Sommen, a member of the EPP, congratulated Lahbib on her role. “During the hearing, she showed herself to be adept at answering critical questions. Now the Parliament has also weighed her up and approved her,” Sommen said.
She added that Lahbib would need to act “empathetically and decisively, with the necessary funds and support, when Europeans are once again hit by a climate disaster, such as currently in Valencia or recently in Central Europe”.
"During the hearing, she showed herself to be adept at answering critical questions. Now the Parliament has also weighed her up and approved her"
Sommen also highlighted areas where Lahbib’s role could significantly impact equality, especially for “people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ individuals and women, including in the labour market”, encouraging Lahbib to take a “pioneering role from Europe.”
Once all hearings conclude, group leaders will conduct a final evaluation, expected on 21 November. The full European Parliament will then vote on the new Commission, potentially allowing it to begin its work on 1 December. Should this timeline hold, Belgium’s outgoing federal government will need to appoint a replacement for Lahbib in her current ministerial role.
Hadja Lahbib at her confirmation hearing at the European Parliament in Brussels, 6 November 2024 © PHOTO NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP
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