European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has hired a former top politician within the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament to advise her on climate matters, a press release from the commission has confirmed.
The long-rumoured hiring of Philippe Lamberts — a Belgian who was the former co-president of his European Parliament group — came as the commission president has struggled to maintain the faction’s support amid her attempts to court the European Conservative and Reformists group, deemed too right-wing by many left-wing politicians and Eurocrats.
In a press release published on November 25, the commission confirmed the Belgian was being brought in “to help to support the transition to a climate-neutral economy”.
“Lamberts will play an advisory role in delivering on the 2030 climate targets, with a view to reaching climate neutrality by 2050,” it read.
“With over 15 years of experience in the European Parliament, of which ten were at the co-presidency of the Greens/EFA Group, Lamberts can build on vast experience and a large network in politics, international affairs and the business community.”
Von der Leyen noted Lamberts’ links to the Greens, praising the left-wing group in the press release.
“The co-operation with the Greens/EFA group has been constructive in the current mandate and they played an important role in securing a pro-European majority at my re-election as Commission President in July,” she said.
“For me, the Greens/EFA group is part of the pro-European majority in the European Parliament like the platform that I want to continue working with, for example on topics like reaching our climate targets, the Clean Industrial Deal, cutting red tape and global engagement.
“Philippe Lamberts, who has earned respect across party and sector lines, will serve as a trustworthy bridge builder between all stakeholders required to move forward on our path to climate neutrality,” she added.
Marine Tondelier, national secretary and leader of The Greens party in France, has said she wants to shut down Elon Musk’s X if it fails to bow to censorship demands. https://t.co/ZCJMEPNitz
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) November 20, 2024
Reactions to Lamberts’ hiring have been mixed in Brussels.
Speaking to Brussels Signal, ECR group member Johan Van Overtveldt praised him, calling him “knowledgeable” and “experienced”, although he added that it was “too early to tell” what impact Lamberts would ultimately have as an adviser.
The paarliament’s Patriots for Europe group member Tom Vandendriessche described the hiring as an “illustration” that the commission had not given up on its “green” agenda.
“Von Der Leyen wants to continue her Green Deal agenda, therefore she needs the Greens,” the Flemish nationalist MEP from the Vlaams Belang party told Brussels Signal.
“It demonstrates the Greens are part of the corrupt political system, which is not there to represent the voter, but instead to cling on to power.”
“In the European uni-party there are always jobs, they take care of their own,” he added.
Christian Democrats in Germany have launched a bid to rescue what remains of the country’s nuclear power sector after attempts by the Greens to eradicate the technology. https://t.co/c6UCYEzoVV
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) November 5, 2024
