Polish MEP: Hard times ahead for commissioner hopefuls Serafin, Fitto, Hoekstra

Poland’s Piotr Serafin will face many challenges if he succeeds in becoming the new EU budget commissioner, while Italian and Dutch commissioners-designate Raffaele Fitto and Wopke Hoekstra are likely to be grilled the most during parliamentary hearings, said opposition PiS MEP Bogdan Rzońca (ECR).

Serafin, known as a trusted confidant of Prime Minister Donald Tusk (PO, EPP), will be the second Pole to be given the budget portfolio in the European Commission, after Janusz Lewandowski (PO, EPP), who served as budget commissioner in the second Barroso Commission (2010-2014).

However, according to PiS MEP Bogdan Rzońca, a member of the European Parliament's Budgets Committee, he will have a lot on his plate in the coming years.

“Honestly, I wouldn't like to be in his place, although, of course, I wish him good luck,” Rzońca told the press briefing.

Among the challenges ahead, Rzońca cited negotiations on the next multiannual financial framework and next year's budget, as well as ongoing discussions on how to repay the debt the EU took on to finance the post-pandemic recovery fund.

One source would be the new Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS2), which will come into force in 2027 and cover the building and road transport sectors, among others.

Some are proposing additional membership contributions from member states to provide additional money for the budget, an option Rzońca says would be good for Warsaw, as net contributors to the EU budget would have to pay more than Poland.

Cohesion money, euro bonds and Ukraine

Another significant issue is the planned reform of cohesion policy, which will emphasize innovation and digital transformation more. Some beneficiaries are concerned that the priority change will result in less money being available for infrastructure, Rzońca told Euractiv Poland.

He noted that this is a particularly important issue for Poland, the biggest beneficiary of cohesion funds.

Mario Draghi's report on boosting the EU's competitiveness also remains a bone of contention, with countries such as Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark opposed further joint EU debt.

The situation is even more complicated as, regardless of future debts, the EU will also have to find money for further support for Ukraine, and Kyiv's needs may rise with the changing situation on the battlefield.

Fitto and Hoekstra to face the toughest hearings

Last Wednesday, the leaders of the Parliament's political groups approved a plan to start the hearings of the Commissioners-designate on 4 November.

Rzońca did not identify any potential problems Serafin might face during his hearing, pointing out that the nomination of the Polish candidate is not particularly controversial.

Asked by Euractiv Poland whether he expected resistance from Western MEPs to the idea of putting the budget file in the hands of a candidate from a country that is the biggest beneficiary of EU funds, he admitted that there could be some discontent but noted that not all member states wanted the portfolio, given the difficulty of the job.

He cited the Italian Raffaele Fitto, who has been nominated as Commission Vice-President for Cohesion and Reform, and the Dutchman Wopke Hoekstra, who has been tipped to take over the climate portfolio, as among the nominees most likely to be grilled.

In the case of Fitto, the Italian government's highly sceptical approach to the European Green Deal could be a problem, while Hoekstra is likely to face questions about his country's and his tough approach to fiscal policy, according to Rzońca.

(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | Euractiv.pl)