Welcome to Better Europe’s weekly update on EU Affairs.
FUTURE COMMISSIONERS ANSWER MEP QUESTIONS
Over the past week, nominees for the next Commission have been working with their transition teams to answer the difficult and not so difficult questions from MEPs. Over 400 pages detailing their plans and priorities were published by the Parliament earlier this week. Most responses avoid controversy and address well-known EU priorities in a high-level and horizontal way. The answers of the Commissioners-designate however to provide some more detail compared to the mission letters they received from Ursula von der Leyen, which mostly outlined broad political goals without detailed plans of action. The real commitments will therefore have to come during the physical hearings, which will start on 4 November. MEPs will use the written input to decide on what questions to ask, and because these will not be shared beforehand, unforeseen challenges might arise and some Commissioners-designate may fail to make it through their hearing, either if they are not deemed sufficiently suitable or if political games between the different EU groups come into play.
MOLDOVA NARROWLY CHOOSES TO A STEP TOWARDS MORE EUROPE
In a nail-biting referendum, Moldova has narrowly voted to enshrine its European Union aspirations in its constitution, with 50.4% of voters backing the change. The result, marked by strong accusations of Russian interference, reflects a nation deeply divided over its geopolitical and economical future. Pro-Western President Maia Sandu came under intense pressure as early results showed a significant lead for the opposition. But the tide turned thanks to expatriate Moldovans, whose votes swung the final result. Sandu, who has cut ties with Moscow since its invasion of Ukraine, condemned foreign interference and vowed to uphold the will of the people. European lawmakers hailed the result as a blow to Russian ambitions, with MEP Siegfried Mureșan declaring it a “victory for the people”. As Moldova sets its sights on EU membership by 2030, the referendum marks a pivotal moment in the country’s struggle between Eastern and Western influences. The upcoming presidential run-off against pro-Russian candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo further underlines the ongoing tug-of-war over Moldova’s future.
ENVIRONMENT MEPS CALL FOR ACTION AT COP29
As the world gears up for COP29 in Baku, the Parliament’s Environment Committee is making its position clear: urgent, transformative action on climate finance is non-negotiable. In a resolution adopted by a clear majority, MEPs call for a collective post-2025 climate finance target in line with the polluter-pays principle and for a multi-faceted approach to financing that integrates public and private sources. One of the most striking elements of the resolution is the push to phase out fossil fuels and related subsidies. Emphasising that a transition away from fossil fuels is not only necessary but also achievable, the resolution urges all nations to reallocate resources to sustainable climate initiatives. The call for wider implementation of carbon pricing mechanisms is equally critical, with MEPs lamenting that only 24% of global emissions are currently covered. The resolution that should still be confirmed at plenary on 13-14 November, comes just ahead of the crucial international climate negotiations that will be taking place at COP29 from 11 to 22 November.