Sweden's former EU minister has been nominated as responsible for environment and water resilience in President Ursula von der Leyen's incoming new EU Commission.
This means standing up for several EU laws that the Swedish government has been at least skeptical about over the years. But she promises to do so.
I'm here to get approved as a commissioner, not as an ambassador for Sweden, she assured during Tuesday evening's hearing in the EU Parliament's environmental committee.
If I'm approved, I'll keep course. I want to make real progress with you to protect biodiversity and implement the nature restoration law, said Roswall.
Vague answers?
Afterwards, she compared the hearing to a long-distance race.
I've skied two Vasalopp and run two half-marathons. I feel about the same as when you cross the finish line. It's really a democratic stronghold when you get subjected to a three-hour long hearing, she said to Swedish journalists on site.
Far from everyone was satisfied with her performance, however.
Unbelievably bad. This won't do. The best thing would be if the government withdraws Roswall and puts forward a proposal for a candidate who has respect for their environmental expertise and knows how EU legislation works, said Jonas Sjöstedt (V).
Even Pär Holmgren (MP) was critical.
There were vague answers and many, not just in the green group, were disappointed, said Holmgren.
"Workhorse"
Roswall now risks becoming the first commissioner so far this year who is not approved directly. According to information to TT, the social democratic party group does not want to take a final stance on her performance until Wednesday morning.
For purely tactical reasons, she may still get the green light, if not enough people rally behind the demand to give her more questions to answer.
What we most want to see is a constructive way forward, and then we'll probably approve her, said Holmgren.
Roswall's party colleague Tomas Tobé (M) warned beforehand of a tough evening. But he is still convinced that she will do a good job – and compares her to her outgoing predecessor as Swedish EU Commissioner.
She's a politician who works extremely hard. Reminds me of Ylva Johansson in that way: a real workhorse, said Tobé in Brussels.
The EU Commission consists of one member from each member state. All have been nominated by their member states, although it is President Ursula von der Leyen who has decided which different tasks they will have.
This week and next Tuesday, the nominated candidates will be subjected to three-hour long hearings by different committees in the EU Parliament. To be approved, initial support from two-thirds of the members is required. Otherwise, it may become necessary to request additional written answers or extra hearings. In the worst case, a member state may be forced to nominate a new candidate.
Once all committees have given their approval, a final formal vote will be held in the entire EU Parliament before the new Commission can take office, at the earliest from December 1.
