The agony is over. Ursula von der Leyen announced the new EU “council of ministers”, not at the Conference of Presidents as expected, but directly to journalists.
Greece with Apostolos Tzitzikostas receives the portfolio of sustainable transport and tourism.
“Apostolos Tzitzikostas will be commissioner of sustainable transport and tourism. He is responsible for the movement of goods and people. These are key areas for our competitiveness but also for our transitions, for the connection of citizens and the promotion of local economies”, pointed out the President of the Commission.
The new Commission will consist of six executive vice-presidents, four women and two men, while in total the College of Commissioners has 11 women, i.e. 40% with Ursula von der Leyen underlining the importance of “balance” throughout the structure.
In particular, positions of executive vice-presidents are given to:
-Spain with Teresa Riberawho will be executive vice president of a clean, fair and competitive transition. She will also be responsible for competition policy.
-Finland with Henna Virkunenwho will be the executive vice president for technology, security and democracy. She will also be responsible for the portfolio for digital technologies.
– France with Stéphane Cezournetwho will be the executive vice president for prosperity and industrial strategy. He will also be responsible for the industry, SME and single market portfolio.
-Estonia with the EU High Representative candidate, Kaya Callas
– Romania with Roxana Minzatouwho will be executive vice president for skills and readiness and
– Italy with Raphael Fittowho will be executive vice-president for cohesion and reform. He will be responsible for the portfolio dealing with cohesion policy, regional development and cities.
As Ursula von der Leyen said, the three vice-presidents are “from the member states that joined before the fall of the Iron Curtain and three from the member states that joined after the reunification of Europe. From the Baltic, Scandinavian and Eastern Europe. Ministers and Prime Ministers. Different backgrounds. But all with one common goal – and that is to make Europe stronger.”
Dubravska Suitsa from Croatia takes over as commissioner for the Mediterranean, while Christoph Hansen from Luxembourg takes over the agriculture portfolio.
The newly established portfolio of defense passes to Lithuania and Andrius Kubilius. A former finance minister, the Austrian Magnus Boehner will be asked to manage immigration. Finally, Kostas Kadis and Cyprus receives will be responsible for fisheries and oceans. “I am drawing on his experience to help build a resilient, competitive and sustainable sector and to present the first European ocean pact,” Ursula von der Leyen said.
In the afternoon, the president of the Commission with the candidate commissioners of the European People’s Party will participate in the meeting of the EPP’s KO. The Greek commissioner candidate Apostolos Tzitzikostas will be there.
The European Parliament is now expected to set dates for the start of the hearings, most likely to be near the end of October or 4 November.
Ursula von der Leyen’s task was not easy, as she was called upon to press for the greatest possible balance between men and women. The latest episode is the resignation of the Frenchman Thierry Breton, who was “vacated” by Emmanuel Macron and effectively getting out of the way an “enemy” of Ursula von der Leyen, who never hid his desire even for the presidency of the Commission.
All the commissioners
- Maros Sefkovic (Slovakia) – For trade
- Valdis Dombrovskis (Latvia) – For economy, productivity and for applicability
- Dubravska Switzerland (Croatia) – For the Mediterranean
- Oliver Varchelli (Hungary) – For health
- Vupke Hoestra (Netherlands) – For environmental issues
- Andrews Coubilius (Lithuania) – For defense and space issues
- Marta Kos (Slovenia) -For enlargement issues
- Kostas Kadis (Cyprus) – For fishing issues
- Apostolos Tzizikostas (Greece) – For Transport and Tourism matters
- Maria Albuquerque (Portugal) – For economic policy matters
- Haja Labip (Belgium) – For crisis management issues
- Peter Seraphim (Poland) – For budget matters
- Dan Jorgensen (Denmark) – For energy and housing policy issues
- Ekaterina Zakharieva (Bulgaria) – For startups and innovation issues
- Michael McGrath (Ireland) – For matters of justice
- Christoph Hansen (Luxembourg) – For agricultural matters
- Glen Micallef (Malta) – For youth and sports matters
- Magnus Brunner (Austria) – Home Affairs and Immigration
- Jessica Roswall (Sweden) -Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
- Haja Lakhbib (Belgium) – Commissioner for Crisis Preparedness and Management
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