2024-08-13, 14:58 PAP/Editorial Office
Piotr Serafin currently serves as head of the Permanent Representation of Poland to the EU, and in 2014-2019 he was head of Tusk’s cabinet when he was President of the European Council.
From 2012 to 2014, Piotr Serafin held the position of Secretary of State for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in 1999-2010 he worked at the Office of the Committee for European Integration.
Tusk announced Serafin’s candidacy after Tuesday’s government session. He emphasized that his recommendation for the position in the EC was presented by the Minister for European Union, Adam Szłapka, and it was “unanimously” and “enthusiastically” accepted by the entire government.
Tusk informed that Serafin’s election was preceded by consultations with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. “We considered several candidates, as is customary, and Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen accepted that we would ultimately submit the candidacy of Piotr Serafin,” he said. “This week – I hope that before the holiday on August 15 – I will consult this proposal with Andrzej Duda,” he announced. He added that Serafin’s candidacy will also be assessed by the parliamentary committee for the European Union. “He will then be formally submitted,” said the head of government.
Tusk emphasized that the portfolio that Poland will receive depends primarily on the head of the EC, but – as he noted – it seems very likely that the Polish commissioner will receive this portfolio, which is key from Poland’s point of view, which would be the European budget.
– This portfolio gives us the opportunity to cooperate and influence various decisions in all areas of life in Europe – said the Prime Minister.
The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expects the member states to submit their candidates by the end of August. She will decide on the division of portfolios. Then, the candidates for commissioners will have to win the approval of MEPs at hearings in the European Parliament. The new composition of the European Commission will be finally approved by the chamber in a vote.
