Following the hearing, S&D spokesperson on farm policies, Paolo De Castro MEP said:
"Commissioner-designate Hogan has demonstrated his long track record, expertise and ambitions regarding farm policies.
"Our Group welcome his commitment to ensuring that the EU common agriculture policy (CAP) will serve to create more jobs and boost the sustainability and competitiveness of the sector.
"We were also satisfied with his undertaking to strengthen and improve the Commission's relations with the European Parliament."
Regarding the personal conduct of the candidate, however, S&D Vice-President Isabelle Thomas made clear:
"There are suspicions that Phil Hogan's behaviour was discriminatory in the past, and indeed he admitted making sexist remarks to a female political colleague to whom he was later obliged to apologise. However, apologies do not excuse misconduct. Non-discrimination is one of the key values of the EU."
