Hague: Former Deputy Prime Minister Wopke Hoekstra has been nominated by Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof to remain a commissioner in the next European Commission.
The Dutch government firmly supports Hoekstra’s continued service in the position, according to a letter Schoof sent to Ursula von der Leyen, the President-elect of the European Commission, according to Xinhua news agency.
He wrote , “With regard to the new Commission’s composition, the Dutch government would like to propose to maintain Wopke Hoekstra as Commissioner for the mandate 2024-2029.”
Last year, when Timmermans returned to the Netherlands to head the Green-Left-Labour coalition, Hoekstra took over as European Commissioner for Climate Action.
Von der Leyen is now assembling the next European Commission after the European Parliament granted her a second term last week.
The Netherlands has shown a strong desire for a financial-economic position, although it is yet unknown which portfolio Hoekstra will have in the next European Commission, according to sources in the Dutch media.
This choice is nicely aligned with Hoekstra’s experience as Finance Minister from 2017 to 2022. He has furthermore held the positions of deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs.
In August, Hoekstra’s precise portfolio will be decided.
