European Parliament confirms Hadja Lahbib’s nomination for European Commissioner
The European Parliament endorsed Belgian minister of foreign affairs, Hadja Lahbib’s nomination for European Commissioner, with the required two-thirds majority secured following her committee hearing on Wednesday. Belga learned this from several sources that Lahbib made a strong impression during the session, which evaluated her candidacy for the Preparedness and Crisis Management and Equality portfolios.
Although Lahbib’s assessment was initially tied to that of Swedish candidate Jessika Roswall from the European People’s Party (EPP), both received positive evaluations by Wednesday afternoon. Had the evaluations been less favourable, Parliament could have required Lahbib to respond to additional written questions or attend another hearing, though this ultimately proved unnecessary.
In response to her confirmation, Lahbib expressed gratitude for the Parliament’s trust. "It is a great honour for me to have the trust of the Members of the European Parliament,” she said, noting that the "challenges and responsibilities that await me are in line with my motivation." Lahbib added, “The European values of equality and solidarity have shaped who I am. I will defend them with all my might. To ensure that every European has the right to live the life he or she wants, free from any form of discrimination. To better prepare our citizens and our societies to respond effectively to crises. To ensure our humanitarian support to those in need.”
Lahbib’s hearing included members from six different parliamentary committees due to her portfolio’s broad scope. Group coordinators from four of these committees ultimately came together to decide with a coalition of support from Renew Europe, the Christian Democratic EPP, the Social Democratic S&D, the Greens and the Conservative ECR.
Sources indicate that the EPP brokered additional political agreements beyond Lahbib and Roswall’s evaluations, including an informal “truce” between major parliamentary groups, agreeing to facilitate each other’s candidates. “That’s what it comes down to,” one source confirmed. 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 approval. “During the hearing, she already showed herself to be adept at answering critical questions. Now the Parliament has also weighed her up and approved her,” Sommen noted. 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.”
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’s installation, 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 attends her confirmation hearing at the European Parliament in Brussels on 6 November, 2024
© PHOTO NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP
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