Philippe Lamberts, from Green group leader to von der Leyen climate adviser

Brussels – From Green group leader in the European Parliament to adviser to the president of the European Commission on environmental issues: this is the parabola of Philippe Lamberts, one of the most respected MEPs of the last legislature who, according to today’s Financial Times, will become an adviser to Ursula von der Leyen as of November.

So, the Greens have no commissioner but a Green (albeit in controversy with his party) in the Commission’s control room.

Lamberts, a Belgian, had been saying for years that his time in Parliament would end last spring. According to the FT, which spoke to a senior EU official, Lamberts will “build bridges” between von der Leyen, climate activists, farmers, and business.

In the first term, at the urging of the Socialists and Greens, in particular, von der Leyen pushed through an ambitious program to cut carbon emissions, reduce waste, and boost renewable energy. However, industry and the powerful farm lobby are complaining about the costs of change. They also explained this with violent protests, with tractors blocking and dirtying Brussels for a couple of days earlier this year. On the other hand, environmentalists fear the Commission could take substantial steps backward in climate policies in this legislature.

“He’s very strong as a bridge builder. He’s also a political animal,” the official told FT referring to Lamberts, adding, “We have this nexus of climate and biodiversity, and our policy needs civil society and industry. That’s what he’s going to advise on.”

A fervent Christian (as is von der Leyen) and a former business executive, Lamberts has long complained that some Green activists have pushed climate policies without due regard to the costs for citizens and businesses. 

His work, the British newspaper predicts, will presumably begin before November, when von der Leyen may again require Green votes to approve her slate of commissioners.