On Wednesday, the prospective successor of Frans Timmermans will appear in the European Parliament in Strasbourg at the traditional annual speech by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
In the Brussels machinery, no decision has yet been made regarding Hoekstra's hearing (read: interview) with the European Parliament. Commission President Von der Leyen appointed Hoekstra two weeks ago, but there are doubts and concerns in European politics about his climate capabilities.
Especially within the center-left groups, it is doubted whether the Christian Democrat Hoekstra is "green enough," or whether he – like the EPP/CDA faction – wants to slow down Climate and Environmental Policy.
Moreover, it is considered "sensitive" that Von der Leyen has put forward only one (male) candidate, while she usually places a strong emphasis on pairs and dual nominations, of a man and a woman. Why she has refrained from this in this case (somewhere between August 22 and 25) is not yet clear.
On Wednesday, Hoekstra will have numerous introductory meetings and coffee dates with faction leaders and politicians from almost all groups in Strasbourg. A separate meeting is also scheduled with all Dutch Members of the European Parliament together.
Last week, he was extensively guided around the offices of the European Commission and the European Parliament in Brussels by Diederik Samsom, the European top official of Frans Timmermans, who returned to The Hague. Samsom is regarded as one of the architects and founders of European Climate Policy.
On Thursday, Hoekstra hopes to hear from the leadership of the European Parliament when his interview will take place (at the earliest in the first week of October; it could also be two weeks later). It should also be clear on Thursday by which committee he will be questioned about his Climate vision: the climate-focused ENVI Environment Committee, the agriculture-oriented Agriculture Committee, or the more financially and economically focused Committee on Foreign Trade.
In any case, every new commissioner needs the support of two-thirds of the European Parliament. That means Hoekstra will need support not only from the current coalition of Social Democrats, Christian Democrats and Liberals, but also from the right-wing ECR conservatives or the Greens to endorse his appointment.
At the moment, there seem to be many question marks within the S&D Social Democrats circle, and that faction could still abstain from voting. In that case, achieving a two-thirds majority (yes-votes) becomes even more doubtful. He will really have to convince us, it is said.
The appointment procedure also provides for a possible second interview, if the candidate does not receive sufficient support after one interview. In that case, a candidate may also choose to withdraw his/her candidacy.