And officially in the Commission, as the second under the presidency of the German politician got the “green light” from the European Parliament last Wednesday, managing to stay within the schedule, which set the start of her term for December 1st.
It is recalled that the approval of the president herself, on July 18, was preceded by 401 positive votes out of a total of 720 MEPs, while the process of hearings of each Commissioner separately by their competent committees and the relevant approvals followed.
It was the first time in the last 20 years where no nomination was “cut”, on the contrary, all the proposed commissioners normally take up their portfolios. Now, the commission is “rolling up its sleeves” as its five-year term officially begins.
On the other hand, a negative impression was made by the fact that , less than the 401 of the president a few months before, against 282 against and 36 abstentions.
The new members of the College of Commissioners – The executive vice-presidents
So from next week, at the headquarters of the European Commission, in the Berlemont building in Brussels, the 11 women (including President von der Leyen) and the 16 male Commissioners will take up their new duties.
First of all the Spanish socialist, Teresa Ribera Rodríguez, who takes the portfolio of Clean, Fair and Competitive Transition. In fact, Ms. Ribera will be responsible for both competition policy and the achievement of the objectives related to the European Green Deal.
Hena Virkunen is now the executive vice president with responsibility for Technology Governance, Security and Democracy and will be responsible for the digital and cutting-edge technologies portfolio. Ms. von der Leyen has stressed that she is tasked with “looking at internal and external aspects of security” to strengthen the foundations of European democracy, such as the rule of law and protecting the Union “wherever it is under attack”.
Stéphane Cezournet, French President Macron’s choice, takes over as Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy and will be responsible for Industry, Small and Medium Enterprises and the Single Market portfolio. “He will lead the work to create the conditions for the growth of our companies – from investment and innovation to economic stability and trade and financial security,” the president of the European Commission had said during the presentation of the appointed commissioners.
Foreign policy and the Greek Commissioner
Kaya Kalas assumes the duties of High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Policy who is also Executive Vice-President of the Commission. It will be the “bridge between internal and external policies” in an “era of geostrategic rivalries and instability” for a Foreign and Security Policy “more aligned with European interests”.
Roxana Minzatou is the executive vice president for People, Skills and Readiness. It has responsibility for skills, education and culture, quality jobs and social rights. He will mainly lead the Skills Union and the European Pillar of Social Rights.
. A portfolio related to cohesion policy, regional development and cities.
As for the Greek Commissioner, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, he takes over the portfolio of Transport and Tourism, after a , on November 4, which led to the comfortable approval of his candidacy.
The objectives of the new Commission
and which areas will be prioritized immediately after taking office?
As Ursula von der Leyen mentioned in her speech before the MEPs, before the start of the voting process, “the first major initiative of the new Commission will be a Competitiveness Compass”.
As he explained, this compass will be built on the three pillars of the Draghi report: The first pillar is closing the innovation gap with the US and China. The second is a joint plan for decarbonisation and competitiveness. And the third, is increasing security and reducing dependencies.
In particular, referring to the issue of security, von der Leyen said that in the midst of wars in Ukraine, in the Middle East, but also in parts of Africa, Europe must play a stronger role.
“Strengthening our security is even more important in a world as contested and fragile as it is today,” von der Leyen said, then introducing the new European foreign affairs chief, former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kalas. “We can count on Kaya Kalas, as High Representative, she is the right person at the right time for Europe’s diplomacy and interests in the world,” emphasized the President of the Commission.
The “White Paper” of European defense
Von der Leyen also said that within the first 100 days of taking office, the new Commission will present a “White Paper” on the future of European defence. “We have no time to waste. We must be ambitious, as the threats are serious”, he stressed, assuring that “the security of Europe will always be the priority of this Commission”.
Migration and changing conditions
Referring to the issue of immigration, von der Leyen stressed that from the beginning of her first term, she promised a “fair and firm” approach that would guarantee sovereignty and solidarity, stricter rules to secure external borders and strengthen internal security, but also stronger guarantees for human rights.
Von der Leyen stressed that the new Commission would work to open “legal pathways” – an approach which is now at the core of the Migration and Asylum Pact.
Concluding, the president of the Commission did not fail to mention that “we need a change of the Treaties, which will improve our Union” and emphasized that she wants to work on this issue with the European Parliament.
This debate, which has flared up in the last year, following a relevant resolution of the European Parliament, concerns radical reforms, such as, among other things, the abolition of the veto in the decisions of the European Council and the direct election of the president of the Commission by the Europeans citizens.
