New European Commissioners

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen yesterday presented her team and the new structure of the next European Commission for the period 2019-2024. Numerous new names, 13 women including the President, 14 men.
The Economy portfolio is Italian. Mariya Gabriel (Bulgaria) will have the Innovation and Youth portfolio.

EU member countries have sent the elected Pesident the names of candidate commissioners, and the portfolios assigned to each of them together with the names of the vice-presidents have been officially announced. The United Kingdom has not indicated any name. The candidate commissioners, as foreseen by the Regulation of the European Parliament, appear in a hearing before the responsible parliamentary committees. Deputees must then vote to approve or not the Commission as a whole, including the President and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Voting takes place by majority of votes cast, by roll call. Before the vote, the President-elect Ursula von der Leyen presented the College of Commissioners and the program to Parliament. Once the approval of the Parliament is received, the Commission is officially appointed by the European Council. The new European Commission should begin its mandate on 1 November 2019.

The President-elect von der Leyen intends to lead a team that really listens to the demands of European citizens: in this sense all the members of the Commission will visit the individual Member States in the first half of their mandate, they will not only visit the capitals, but will also visit the regions in European citizens live and work. Europe will prepare for the digital age and the Commission will have to set an example: the meetings of the college will take place digitally, without the use of paper. The objective of the new Commission is to simplify the lives of citizens and businesses: in order to streamline the bureaucracy, for each new standard or regulation approved, the Commission undertakes to eliminate a similar regulation already in force.

The new college will have eight Vice-Presidents, including the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Policy and Security Policy (Josep Borrell). The Vice-Presidents are responsible for the main priorities set out in the political guidelines. They will guide our activities on the most important general issues, such as the European Green Deal, a Europe ready for the digital age, an economy that works for people, the protection of our European lifestyle, a stronger Europe in the world and a new impetus for European democracy. The Commissioners, at the center of the structure of the new college, will manage the specialist skills provided by the general directorates.

Three Executive Vice-Presidents will have a dual function: they will be at the same time Commissioners and Vice-Presidents responsible for one of the three central themes of the elected President's agenda.

Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans (Netherlands) will coordinate the activities for the European Green Deal. It will also manage the Climate Action Policy, with the support of the Directorate General for Climate Action.

Designated commissioners:

Johannes Hahn (Austria) will be in charge of "Budget and administration" and will report directly to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. As a member of the long-standing college, he knows how important it is to promote a modern administration.

Didier Reynders (Belgium), a lawyer by profession, is a former Finance Minister, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and a highly experienced Minister of Defense. In the new Commission he will be responsible for "Justice" (including the topic of the rule of law).

Mariya Gabriel (Bulgaria) is part of the current Commission. He has worked with dedication and energy to the digital portfolio and now accepts the challenge of creating new prospects for young people ("Innovation and Youth" portfolio).

Stella Kyriakides (Cyprus) is a medical psychologist with many years of experience in social affairs, health and cancer prevention. He will lead the "Health" portfolio.

Kadri Simson (Estonia) is a member of the long-standing Estonian Parliament and Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure. He will be responsible for the "Energy" portfolio.

Jutta Urpilainen (Finland) was not only Minister of Finance and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Finnish Parliament, but also worked as a special correspondent in Ethiopia. It will deal with "international partnerships".

Sylvie Goulard (France), a former Member of the European Parliament, is a convinced and committed European. As Commissioner for the "Internal Market" she will guide our work on industrial policy and promote the digital single market. He will also be responsible for the new Directorate General for the Defense and Space Industry.

László Trócsányi (Hungary) is the former Minister of Justice of Hungary. He will head the "Neighborhood and Enlargement" portfolio.

Phil Hogan (Ireland), currently Commissioner for Agriculture, will put his experience at the service of the new Commission in the "Commerce" portfolio.

Paolo Gentiloni (Italy), a former Italian prime minister and foreign minister in Italy, will put his vast experience at the disposal of the "Economy" portfolio.

Virginijus Sinkevičius (Lithuania), the Lithuanian Minister of Economy and Innovation will be responsible for "Environment and Oceans".

Nicolas Schmit (Luxembourg) brings the experience gained to the European Parliament and as Minister of Employment and Labor of Luxembourg and will be responsible for the "Work" portfolio.

Helena Dalli (Malta) has devoted her political life to equality, as minister for social dialogue, consumer affairs and civil and ministerial freedoms for European affairs and equality. He will lead the "Equality" portfolio.

Janusz Wojciechowski (Poland) has long been a Member of the European Parliament in the Agriculture Committee and is currently a member of the European Court of Auditors. He will take care of the "Agriculture" portfolio.

Elisa Ferreira (Portugal) is currently deputy governor of the Banco de Portugal. She was a Member of the European Parliament for many years and was Minister for Planning and Minister of Environment of Portugal. He will lead the "Cohesion and reforms" portfolio.

Rovana Plumb (Romania) is a member of the European Parliament (Vice-President of the Socialist and Democrat group) and is a former Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Minister of Labor, Minister for European Funds, Minister of Education and Minister of Transport of Romania. He will be in charge of the "Transportation" portfolio.

Janez Lenarčič (Slovenia) is a Slovenian diplomat. He was State Secretary for European Affairs and worked closely with the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the European Union for many years. He will be responsible for the "Crisis Management" portfolio.

Ylva Johansson (Sweden) is the Swedish Minister of Labor, but was also Minister of the School and Minister of Health and Care for the Elderly and a member of the Swedish Parliament. She is also a renowned expert in the fields of employment, integration, health and social assistance. It will lead the "Internal Affairs" portfolio.

For more information, visit the European Commission website.