MEP Thomas Bajada has called on nominated Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis to create an economic model for Europe that prioritises environmental standards and sustainable well-being over short-term profit.

Speaking at a European Parliament hearing organised by the ECON and JURI Committees, Bajada emphasised the need to balance long-term social prosperity with economic goals. He highlighted the role of Eurostat in providing essential data, which he argued is crucial for shaping informed, impactful policies.

“We need to bridge the gap between economic metrics that prioritise immediate profits and those that secure our collective future,” said Bajada, urging for data-driven decision-making to support sustainable economic policies.

In response, Dombrovskis expressed willingness to expand Eurostat’s statistical measures if needed but stopped short of making concrete commitments, a gap that Politico Europe pointed out.

Bajada, agreeing with the critique, pledged to keep this issue at the forefront once the new Commission is in place.

Beyond economic sustainability, Bajada addressed other urgent matters, pressing Commissioner Roswall on water resilience in vulnerable island regions and asking Commissioner Kadis about illegal and unregulated fishing practices and third-country aggression in the Mediterranean.

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