The European Parliament has approved the appointment of Phil Hogan as the new EU Trade Commissioner.

Mr Hogan was nominated by the incoming Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier this month and was approved to the post by the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee this evening.

After the hearing, he tweeted: “The EU’s leadership role in global trade has never been more important or faced as many challenges as it does today.”

“I therefore look forward to working very closely with MEPs and the European Council.

“I hope to justify the trust they have placed in me to deliver on our shared agenda.”

I therefore look forward to working very closely with @EP_Trade MEPs and the European Council. I hope to justify the trust they have placed in me to deliver on our shared agenda. (2)

— Phil Hogan (@PhilHoganEU) October 1, 2019

He said the new commission will work to, “build partnerships, protect our market from unfair practices and ensure our values and standards are protected.”

The appointment will ensure that Mr Hogan is front-and-centre in any future negotiations on a new trade deal between the EU and the UK.

In order to move on to negotiations on future trade however, the UK Government will first have to ratify a Withdrawal Agreement with the EU.

Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly offering his support to Phil Hogan, whose hearing to be approved as the EU’s Trade Commissioner is underway pic.twitter.com/ebHOaLMcZd

— Stephen Murphy (@StephenMNews) September 30, 2019

The EU is the largest exporter of agri-food products in the world, with exports of €138bn last year.

Mr Hogan spent the last five years as the EU Agriculture Commissioner.

He will take up his new position after the new commission is formally appointed by the European Council.