He is a political heavyweight in Brussels and has been at the forefront of the Green Party. Now there are concerns about what will happen to the EU’s climate policy without Frans Timmermans at the helm.
After ten years in the EU corridors in Brussels, Frans Timmermans is looking towards his home ground, where he wants to enter the battle to become Prime Minister of the Netherlands. And the message that the EU’s climate chief gave earlier this week has not gone unnoticed.
Timmermans is the European Commission’s climate commissioner, vice-chairman – and he has been at the forefront of the so-called green initiative that will lead Europe towards climate neutrality in 2050. If he leaves his post, the EU will lose one of the most vocal advocates for reduced emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gases and an economy that is not dependent on dirty fossil fuels.
“Few people have been so decisive for the European climate work,” writes the Swedish member of the EU Parliament Jakop Dalunde (MP) on Twitter. “How much does it affect climate leadership within the EU?”, party colleague Pär Holmgren asks.
“Heavyweight”
– Timmermans has been the political heavyweight of the Green Party, says Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, head of the Institute for Climate Economics, to the news site Politico.
– Without him, the question is who, if anyone, can fill his shoes at a time when the commission still has many decisions regarding the green given left to complete.
But for conservative voices who think that the EU’s climate policy is too ambitious, Timmerman’s decision is welcome.
Earlier in July, the EU Parliament’s right-wing parties almost succeeded in killing a controversial nature restoration proposal – but it finally passed after many compromises. Timmermans advocated the commission’s proposal.
– We will not miss him. He has caused great damage, says Italian right-wing leader Matteo Salvini, according to Politico.
Until the fall
The EU’s climate goals will of course remain even without Timmermans. But it remains to be seen who will take over as top negotiator on the Union’s climate policy in an international context.
For example, Timmermans has led the EU delegation during the last three UN climate summits, during which he has become known for fiery and emotional statements.
The climate chief is expected to leave his EU post before the autumn to participate in the election campaign in the Netherlands. This means that he will not lead the EU delegation during the COP28 summit in Dubai in November/December.