Both failed to pass their oral hearings and must now provide written explanations within half a day on about eight issues. Whether a vote on their appointments can take place in the European Parliament on Thursday will depend on this.
The biggest stumbling block is the Green Deal legacy of former Commissioner Frans Timmermans. After the Christian democrats launched a frontal attack on the Nature Restoration Law a few months ago, the European Commission has put several Green Deal decisions on the back burner.
Moreover, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has offered the agricultural community 'a constructive dialogue'.
According to the EPP Christian democrats, this means that the already prepared proposals for new animal welfare, a new forest and soil strategy, microplastics, and reducing chemicals in agriculture are postponed to a new Commission in 2024. What happens thereafter is uncertain.
Pascal Canfin, chair of the ENVI environment committee (which handles the appointment process), stated that all those Green Deal laws are technically ready at an administrative level, and only 'the political will' is needed to submit them to the parliament and put them on the agenda.
The fact that Slovak Commissioner Sefcovic was vague about this in his oral hearing is criticized by both United Left and the Greens as well as part of his own S&D faction. Some liberals also believe 'the time has come to make decisions on those dossiers now.'
In that case, Commission President Von der Leyen will also have to clarify what she meant when she said 'that we hold on to the Green Deal.'
From an explanation by ENVI chair Canfin, it also became clear that both Hoekstra and Sefcovic were beforehand made aware of the minimum requirements they had to meet. For Hoekstra, this was his full acceptance of the 2040 targets for Climate Policy. The questioning EU politicians want that in black and white from him and also request further clarification on the dossiers he was involved in during his role as a consultant at McKinsey.
That the examination committee wants black-and-white confirmation from Sefcovic that he will still submit those remaining Green Deal proposals could become a problem since Von der Leyen has promised farmers their dialogue. It is unclear whether this will only be a case of 'postponement,' or if the fate of Hoekstra and Sefcovic will be linked to 'cancellation.' What is clear is that the two large factions each want something different.
On Wednesday, the written responses of Hoekstra and Sefcovic will be reviewed and discussed by the examiners. If those responses are satisfactory, the nomination will be forwarded to the full parliament, which will then vote on it Thursday.
If not, the matter can be postponed until late October or early November.