Jessika Roswall’s appointment as European Commissioner for the Environment has been received very positively by the Swedish authorities, but her upcoming confirmation hearing is already shaping up to be tough.

Roswall (Moderates, EPP) has been proposed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday (17 September) to take charge of the environment portfolio in the next European Commission.

Roswall “will have an important job to help preserve our environment and bring balance to nature… develop a more sustainable and competitive economy,” and “lead the work on water resilience,” von der Leyen told reporters during her presentation.

At a brief press conference on Tuesday, the former Swedish EU affairs minister said she was “very happy” with her portfolio, adding that the environment brief was “something we’ve been asking for”.

Swedish Prime minister Ulf Kristersson (Moderates, EPP) was also satisfied, not least because Roswall will oversee forestry-related issues, which he called “crucial for Sweden’s growth and climate transition”.

Within the new Commission, Roswall will work closely Wopke Hoekstra, who retains his role as climate commissioner, and Teresa Ribera, the incoming executive vice-president responsible for a clean and just transition.

But exactly how the trio will divide their tasks remains unclear.

“It’s too early to answer that question,” said Roswall. “But I’m really looking forward to working with the two of them.”

Roswall’s CV, Sweden’s record under the microscope

However, this is not the end of the road for the Swedish nominee, who must still navigate her confirmation hearing in the European Parliament.

Likely to attract scrutinty from MEPs is Roswall’s lack of experience in environmental policy, a source close to the Swedish Liberals told Euractiv, while they also noted her very professional attitude and adaptability.

For her part, Roswall told reporters that she was comfortable with her knowledge of the brief, “given that this is one of the issues we worked hard on during the Swedish Presidency [of the Council of the EU, in 2023]. But there is a lot for me to familiarise myself.”

Perhaps more problematic for Roswall will be the question of Sweden’s environmental record, governed for the last two years by a prime minister from her own Moderate party.

“The fact that Sweden has been given responsibility for the EU’s environmental work is worrying, given how the government has driven Swedish environmental work into the ground,” said Swedish Green MEP Alice Bah Kuhnke in a written statement.

Political opponents and the Swedish Climate Policy Council have accused Kristersson’s goverment of putting Sweden on course to miss its 2030 climate targets. Recent measures have been taken to attempt to put the country back on track.

Bah Kuhnke also believes Roswall must “give good answers” in her hearings on Sweden’s rejection of the EU’s Nature Restoration Law – which Roswall now needs to support – during her stint as EU affairs minister.

The tree that hides the forest

That Roswall’s portfolio includes forestry, a crucial economic sector for the country, is also expected to come up at her hearings.

While forestry itself remains a national competence, the EU sets guidelines and supports sustainable forest management through initiatives such as the EU Forest Strategy, the Green Deal and even the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

With over two-thirds of Sweden covered in trees, making the country one of the EU’s biggest carbon sinks, forestry is a particularly sensitive issue in Stockholm, where anything resembling an attempt by the Commission to dictate forestry policy is frowned upon.

Once confirmed in her role, it will be up to Roswall to reconcile her country’s position with that of the Commission. Stockholm, for example, still refuses to allow its forests to be the European adjustment variable that would compensate for other countries that are unable to reduce their emissions.

“Mrs Roswall’s appointment was certainly part of the deal to reassure the forestry countries, particularly Sweden and Finland”, a diplomatic source told Euractiv.

“It remains to be seen how the Parliament will view the matter during its hearings, particularly if she has to defend a policy at European level that will immediately be criticised at national level”, they added.

The new European Commission is not expected to take office until 1 November at the earliest – but given delays, it is unlikely to be confirmed until December.

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