Water will be divided among at least four EU Commissioners

EU-president Von der Leyen presented four designated European Commissioners whose portfolios are connected to the water sector. Their roles focus on key areas such as water resilience, environmental sustainability, the circular economy and climate action.

The candidates will participate in public hearings before the European Parliament from 4 to 12 November. Following these hearings, the Parliament approves the European Commission as a whole through a single vote of consent. Finally, the European Council, by qualified majority, formally appoints the new Commission.

Jessika Roswall

Jessika Roswall from Sweden is nominated for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy. Prior to this nomination, Roswall served as Minister for European Union Affairs. She has been involved in various Transparency Councils and followed law education on the University of Uppsala. In her mission letter is written that she has to lead the work on the European Water Resilience Strategy and she has to strengthen Europe’s global water leadership.

Teresa Ribera Rodríguez

Teresa Ribera Rodriguez from Spain is nominated as Executive Vice President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition. In Spain she is now Minister of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge. Ribera Rodriguez has a law background. She has to develop a clean circular economy making the most of Europe’s natural capital.

Wopke Hoekstra

Wopke Hoekstra from the Netherlands has been EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Transport since July 2024.  In the new Commission he is nominated as EU Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth. In the Netherlands he was minister of Finance and a member of the national Parliament. Part of his mission is to make Europe climate-resilient and prepared for growing climate risks.

Christophe Hansen

Christophe Hansen from Luxembourg is nominated as EU commissioner for Agriculture and Food. The last few years he was member of the Luxembourgish parliament and Chairman on the Committee of Environment, Climate and Biodiversity.

More water related Commissioners

Before the elections Water News Europe offered an overview of what choices water professionals could make. For water professionals the European elections are very important because water legislation and regulations is mostly made in Europe. In the new EU Commission water will not only be the work of the four designated EU commissioners. Hadja Lahbib from Belgium will be EU commissioner for preparedness and crisis management. She must prepare European civilians for natural disasters. Costas Kadis from Cyprus is designated as EU commissioner for Oceans and Fisheries. Ekaterina Zaharieva from Bulgaria is designated as Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation. And Apostolos Tzitzikostas from Greece is designated as Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.