Europe

President-elect unveils new EU Commission team

After European Parliament’s consent, European Council formally appoints new commissioners

Diyar Güldoğan  | 10.09.2019 - Update : 10.09.2019
President-elect unveils new EU Commission team

ANKARA

European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday unveiled the new College of Commissioners.

"I want a Commission that is led with determination, that is clearly focused on the issues at hand and that provides answers. I want it to be a well-balanced, agile and modern Commission," Von der Leyen said.

She said it will be a geopolitical Commission committed to sustainable policies, adding: "And I want the European Union to be the guardian of multilateralism. Because we know that we are stronger by doing together what we cannot do alone."

She added the new College will have eight vice-presidents, including the High-Representative of the Union for Foreign Policy and Security Policy, who was named as Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell.

Frans Timmermans, Margrethe Vestager and Valdis Dombrovskis were announced as executive vice presidents.

Five other vice-presidents are Josep Borrell, Vera Jourova, Margaritis Schinas, Maros Sefcovic, and Dubravka Suica.

Von der Leyen announced Hungarian candidate Laszlo Trocsanyi as new commissioner for neighborhood and enlargement.

Current EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn will be in charge of budget and administration in the new term.

Belgian candidate Didier Reynders will be responsible for justice, and Bulgaria's Mariya Gabriel will take charge of the innovation and youth portfolio.

Von der Leyen said Stella Kyriakides will head the health portfolio.

Long-serving member of the Estonian parliament and Minister for Economic Affairs and Infrastructure, Kadri Simson will be in charge of the energy.

Finland's Jutta Urpilainen will assume the charge of international partnerships.

As the Internal Market Commissioner, Sylvie Goulard will lead work on industrial policy and promote the digital single market. She will also be responsible for the new Directorate-General for Defense Industry and Space.


The remaining commissioners are as follow:

Phil Hogan for trade 

Paolo Gentiloni for economy 

Virginijus Sinkevicius for environment and oceans 

Nicolas Schmit for jobs 

Helena Dalli for equality 

Janusz Wojciechowski for agriculture 

Elisa Ferreira for cohesion and reforms 

Rovana Plumb for transport 

Janez Lenarcic for crisis management 

Ylva Johansson for home affairs 


The U.K. did not nominate a commissioner as the country will be leaving the EU on Oct. 31.

The European Council on Tuesday adopted the list of persons whom it proposes for appointment as members of the Commission until Oct. 31, 2024.

Once the European Parliament has given its consent to the entire College of Commissioners, the European Council formally appoints the European Commission.


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