The new European Commission begins to work

Janusz Wojciechowski, MEP veteran and current member of the European Court of Auditors, is the new Commissioner of Agriculture, while Phil Hogan assumes the Commerce portfolio.

The new European Commission with the conservative Ursula von der Leyen in charge starts this December 1 with 26 commissioners in charge, after the United Kingdom, forced by the postponement of Brexit until the end of January, has not fulfilled the obligation to present a commissioner adducing the next appointment with the polls of December 12.

The Community Executive, the most common to date with twelve women, starts his work one month late, after the initial candidates presented by France, Romania and Hungary did not receive the approval of the Eurocamara. Of the total commissioners, only eight of the members of the Jean-Claude Juncker Commission repeat.

The new president of the Commission and her College of Commissioners got the endorsement of the Eurochamber on November 27, thanks to the pact previously reached by the three large groups – conservatives, socialists and liberals – and they did so with a much more comfortable majority than the Von der Leyen adjusted adjusted in July.

The designation of Von der Leyen by European leaders was preceded by a certain controversy, since they decided not to respect the unwritten rule that the president of the Commission be the head of the list of the most voted group in the elections, the so-called ‘Spitzenkandidat ‘.

The then German Minister of Defense did come from the European People’s Party (PPE), the main force in the European Chamber, and also had the added value of being a woman, the first to opt to chair the Commission, something with which the leaders They wanted to send a message to the citizens.

Von der Leyen has built the new College of Commissioners with eight vice-presidents, among which will be the Spanish Josep Borrell, who will hold the position of high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, but only three of them will have executive power.

– Frans Timermans (Netherlands). Former Dutch Foreign Minister and Social Democrat, he has been with Juncker the Vice President in charge of the State of Law for which he has assumed the role of scourge of Hungary and Poland and has also been the clearest in defending the constitutional order in Spain in the Catalan crisis . He will now be responsible for coordinating the work related to the European Green Pact and managing the climate action policy.

– Margrethe Vestager (Denmark). After having been Minister of Education and Economy, in recent years liberal policy has been at the forefront of the Competition portfolio, from which it has imposed significant fines on large multinationals for unfair practices. Now, it will coordinate the agenda on a Europe adapted to the digital era and will also be responsible for competition.

– Valdis Dombrovskis (Latvia). In the former Latvian prime minister, he repeats as economic vice president and now he is responsible for coordinating work on an economy that works for people and will be responsible for financial services.

To these three are added five more vice presidents:

– Josep Borrell (Spain). As head of European diplomacy, Von der Leyen has commissioned him to work for a stronger Europe in the world. Borrell returns to Europe after having been president of the European Parliament between 2004 and 2007.

– Vera Jourová (Czech Republic). The so far Commissioner of Justice will be the new head of Securities and Transparency

– Schinas Margaritis (Greece). This former deputy and spokesman for Juncker will be in charge of the new Immigration portfolio, named as ‘Promotion of the European way of life’, which was accompanied by controversy by its initial designation of ‘Protection of the European way of life’.

– Maros Sefcovic (Slovakia). Up to now, Vice President in charge of Energy, will be responsible for Interagency Relations and Forecasting.

– Dubravka Suica (Croatia). The MEP of the EPP will be responsible for the Democracy and Demography portfolio and will lead the work on the Conference on the Future of Europe on behalf of the Commission.

The rest of the College of Commissioners is made up of:

– Johannes Hahn (Austria). Another one that he repeats as commissioner, although he will now be the head of Budget and Administration and in the past he was an extension.

– Didier Reynders (Belgium). Until now, the Belgian Foreign Minister has a long political career that has led him to occupy several portfolios. In the new Commission, he will be the head of Justice, a portfolio in which the Rule of Law is framed, and he has undertaken to study whether it is necessary to reform the rules of the Euro-order.

– Mariya Gabriel (Bulgaria). She also repeats as curator but now she will be in charge of Innovation and Youth. Your portfolio, after the pressures of …

– Stella Kyriakides (Cyprus). The new head of Health is psychologist  clinic and has extensive experience in social matters.

– Kadri Simson (Estonia). Former Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure and also a deputy, will be in charge of the Energy portfolio.

– Jutta Urpilainen (Finland). The head of International Associations has been Minister of Finance and also a deputy.

– Thierry Breton (France). The new French commissioner took over from Sylvie Goulard, who did not pass the Eurocamara court. Breton was until now executive director of Atos and will be responsible for Internal Market, whose portfolio includes the new Directorate General for Defense, Industry and Space.

– Olivier Varhelyi (Hungary). Nor was it the first option presented by the Government of Viktor Orban. He was until now ambassador to the EU and will be in charge of Neighborhood and Enlargement, despite the suspicion that arouses these issues.

– Phil Hogan (Ireland). The outgoing Agriculture Commissioner will now be in charge of the Commerce portfolio, with the symbolism that the Irish Commissioner will be responsible, in principle, for conducting the negotiations of the future trade agreement that will be negotiated with the United Kingdom as a third country.

– Paolo Gentiloni (Italy). The former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister will assume the Economy portfolio and, together with Dombrovskis, will be in charge of monitoring that the euro countries comply with fiscal regulations.

– Virginijus Sinkevicius (Lithuania). Until now, Minister of Economy and Innovation will have to deal with the Environment and Oceans.

– Nicolas Schmit (Luxembourg). The new head of Employment has been MEP and Minister of Employment and Labor Affairs.

– Helena Dalli (Malta). After having been Minister of Social Dialogue, Consumers and Civil Liberties and Minister of European Affairs and Equality, she will take care of the Equality portfolio in the new Commission.

– Janusz Wojciechowski (Poland). MEP veteran and current member of the European Court of Auditors will be in charge of the Agriculture portfolio.

– Elisa Ferreira (Portugal). Current Deputy Governor of the Bank of Portugal and former MEP, has received the commission of Cohesion and Reforms.

– Adina Valean (Romania). The MEP will finally be the representative of Romania in the new Commission, after the first option was rejected by the European Parliament and in the midst of the problems for its designation since there was a change of government in its country. It will occupy the Transport portfolio.

– Janez Lenarcic (Slovenia). In addition to being Secretary of State for European Affairs, this Slovenian diplomat has been director of the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Your new assignment will be the Crisis Management portfolio.

– Ylva Johansson (Sweden). The Minister of Economy has also previously held the Portfolios of Schools and Health and Assistance to the Elderly. In the new Commission, she will be responsible for the portfolio of Home Affairs.