Ursula von der Leyenat the helm of the European Commission, has revealed the team that will accompany her in her mandate for the next five years. The announcement was made in Strasbourgthe beating heart of the European Parliament. The new college of Commissioners, composed of 26 figuresis the fruit of careful reflection on the needs and challenges that Europe is facing today. And also of numerous negotiations conducted with the balance.
Von der Leyen’s guideline clearly emerges from the choice in the allocation of portfolios, with the introduction of five new areas of intervention which reflect the desire to adapt the Union’s action to constantly evolving global dynamics. Among these, key areas stand out such as there defense and securitytrade combined with economic security, energy combined with housing policies, and a dedicated area on tax, climate and green growth.
This process of renewal and adaptation, however, has not been without controversy. A case in point is the resignation of Thierry Breton, the French Commissioner, on the eve of the official announcement of the new Commission. This episode, together with the controversy that also involved the Minister Raffaele Fittohas raised doubts and questions about the solidity and coherence of the team chosen by Von der Leyen, fueling discussions on the actual ability of this new formation to effectively respond to the expectations of European citizens.
Giorgia Meloni, on the other hand, is exulting, having obtained, barring any surprises, the executive vice-presidency for “her” Fitto after months of conflicts and after the Italian failure to vote for Ursula. “Raffaele Fitto will be executive vice-president with responsibility for Cohesion and Reforms. He will be responsible for cohesion policy, regional development and cities,” said the Commission president. “He will bring his great experience to modernize and strengthen investments for cohesion and growth policies.”
Here is the full team:
– Maroš Šefčovič (Slovakia): Commissioner for Trade
– Andrius Kubilius (Lithuania): Commissioner for Defence and Space
– Peter Serafin (Poland): Commissioner for Budget
– Magnus Brunner (Austria): Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration
– Wopke Hoekstre (Netherlands), outgoing Climate Commissioner, will have the same role
– Oliver Varhelyi (Hungary): Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare (previously Commissioner for Enlargement)
– Valdis Dombrovskis (Latvia): Commissioner for Economy and Simplification
– Dan Jorgensen (Denmark): Energy Commissioner
To which are added the executive vice-president commissioners
– Henna Virkkunen (Finland): Commissioner for Security and Technological Sovereignty
– Teresa Ribera (Spain): Commissioner for Ecological Transition and Competition
– Raffaele Fitto (Italy): Cohesion and Reforms
– Roxana Minzatu (Romania): Commissioner responsible for talents and
skills
– Stephane Sejourné (France): Commissioner for Industrial Strategy