MEPs today approved the composition of the new European Commission, which will remain headed by Ursula von der Leyen. The new Commission will take office on 1 December, a month later than originally planned.
The new European Commission was approved by 370 votes to 282, with 36 abstentions.
Presenting the new commissioners and their programmes to the European Parliament plenary session before the vote, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU would ensure that the future of the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova was in Europe and that it would continue to support these countries every step of the way in their merit-based process until they are ready to join the Union.
Ursula von der Leyen said that the new Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos was the right person for the job, highlighting her skills and experience in this area.
The Executive Vice-Presidents of the European Commission are Tereza Ribera from Spain, who has been elected as Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Hena Virkunen from Finland, who has taken on the role of Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Stéphane Séjourné from France as Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, Kaja Kalas from Estonia, who is also High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Vice-President of the Commission, Roksana Minzatu from Romania, who is Vice-President for People, Skills and Preparedness, and Rafaele Fito from Italy, who is Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms.
This team of Executive Vice-Presidents forms the key structure that will guide the European Commission’s policy in the coming period.
The other 20 members of the new Commission include Maroš Šefčovič from Slovakia, who has been elected as Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Valdis Dombrovskis from Latvia, who will also hold two portfolios – for Economy and Productivity, as well as for Implementation and Simplification, and Dubravka Šuica from Croatia, who is Commissioner for the Mediterranean. She will also be responsible for the EU’s wider southern neighbourhood and will work closely with the incoming foreign policy chief Kaja Kalas.
Hungary’s Oliver Várhelyi is currently the Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, the Netherlands’ Wopke Hoekstra will be the Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero (Emissions) and Clean Growth, Lithuania’s Andrius Kubilius will be the Commissioner for Defence and Space, working on the development of the European Defence Union, and Slovenia’s Marta Kos is the new Commissioner for Enlargement.
Czech Republic’s Jozef Sikkela is the Commissioner for International Partnerships, Cyprus’ Costas Kadis is the Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Portugal’s Maria Luís Albuquerque is the Commissioner for Financial Services and Savings and Investment Union, Belgium’s Hajja Labib is the Commissioner for Crisis Preparedness and Management, and Austria’s Magnus Bruner is the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration.
The Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy is Jessica Roswall from Sweden, while Piotr Serafin from Poland was elected Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration, while Dan Jørgensen from Denmark was appointed Commissioner for Energy and Housing.
Ekaterina Zaharieva from Bulgaria is Commissioner for Research and Innovation, Michael McGrath from Ireland is Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law, Apostolos Tsitsikostas from Greece is Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Christoph Hansen from Luxembourg is Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, and Glenn Micallef from Malta is Commissioner for Intergenerational Justice, Culture, Youth and Sport.
Ursula von der Leyen, speaking at a press conference with European Parliament President Robert Metzola after the election of the new EC, said it was important for the Commission to start work as soon as possible. She said there were huge challenges within the EU, at its borders and in its neighbourhood.
She expressed her belief that the EU institutions will continue to work in a spirit of mutual trust and cooperation, which will lead to greater transparency, accountability and more intensive dialogue.
