Hadja Lahbib was put in charge of the equality, crisis management and humanitarian aid portfolios in the new European Commission chaired by Ursula von der Leyen.
“It is a great honor for me to gain the trust of MEPs. The challenges and responsibilities that await me match my motivation,” said Hadja Lahbib. “The European values of equality and solidarity have made me who I am. I will defend them with all my strength and conviction.”
The former journalist made a strong impression during her oral presentation on Wednesday morning, despite repeated questions on Iranian visa files and her visit to Crimea. The coordinators of the different political groups in the European Parliament were to meet immediately to decide whether or not they supported his nomination. Their meeting was finally postponed until the end of the afternoon, because the EPP wanted to combine the deliberations with that on the Swedish commissioner-designate Jessika Roswall, whose hearing went less well the day before. The latter also received a positive assessment from deputies at the end of the afternoon.
After the hearing of all the commissioners by the European Parliament, which takes place until November 12, the college as a whole will have to obtain the support of all MEPs, probably during the plenary session at the end of November.
