President Barroso unveils his new team

04 Dec '09

5 min read

• László ANDOR: Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.
• Baroness Catherine ASHTON: High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security and Vice-President of the Commission.
• Michel BARNIER: Internal Market and Services.
• Dacian CIOLOS: Agriculture and Rural Development.
• John DALLI: Health and Consumer Policy.
• Maria DAMANAKI: Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.
• Karel DE GUCHT: Trade.
• Štefan FÜLE: Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy. *
• Johannes HAHN: Regional Policy.
• Connie HEDEGAARD: Climate Action.
• Maire GEOGHEGAN-QUINN: Research and Innovation.
• Rumiana JELEVA: International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response. *
• Siim KALLAS: Transport. Vice-President of the Commission.
• Neelie KROES: Digital Agenda. Vice-President of the Commission.
• Janusz LEWANDOWSKI: Budget and Financial Programming.
• Cecilia MALMSTRÖM: Home Affairs.
• Günter OETTINGER: Energy.
• Andris PIEBALGS: Development.*
• Janez POTOCNIK: Environment.
• Viviane REDING: Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. Vice-President of the Commission.
• Olli REHN: Economic and Monetary Affairs.
• Maroš ŠEFCOVIC: Vice-President of the Commission for Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration.
• Algirdas ŠEMETA: Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud.
• Antonio TAJANI: Industry and Entrepreneurship. Vice-President of the Commission.
• Androulla VASSILIOU: Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth.

* In close cooperation with the High Representative/Vice-President in accordance with the treaties.

A table with a more detailed description of the portfolio responsibilities is attached.

Baroness Ashton will be the 1 st Vice-President. However, having regard to her specific functions, notably in the Council, the replacement of the President in his absence will be assured by the other Vice-Presidents, in the order of precedence defined by the President. The order of precedence is: Viviane Reding, Joaquín Almunia, Siim Kallas, Neelie Kroes, Antonio Tajani, Maro š Š ef c ovi c .

Next steps

The new Commission must gain approval from the European Parliament before it takes office for a term of office running until 31 October 2014. Commissioners-designate will appear in individual hearings before Parliamentary committees from 11-19 January. The vote of consent on the new Commission as a whole is foreseen to take place on 26 January. On the basis of the vote of consent, the Commission shall be appointed by the European Council. Then it can start working.

I t will do so on the basis of the political guidelines for the next Commission set out by President Barroso in September last. He highlighted the need for EU leadership, shaping globalisation on the basis of its values and interests. Taking global interdependence as the starting point, he set out a transformational agenda for the EU, a Europe that puts people at the heart of its agenda. He emphasized five key challenges facing Europe:

• Restarting economic growth today and ensuring long–term sustainability and competitiveness for the future
• Fighting unemployment and reinforcing our social cohesion
• Turning the challenge of a sustainable Europe to our competitive advantage
• Ensuring the security of Europeans
• Reinforcing EU citizenship and participation.

European Commission

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