Next European Commissioners nominated

The EU Governments have now each confirmed their nominee for a post in the new European Commission, expected to take up position in early 2010. Under the continuing leadership of incumbent Portuguese Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, 13 more of the current EU Commissioners will return to new posts in the next institutional term, joined by a further 13 'new faces'.

The Member State Governments, with President Barroso, have negotiated the distribution of policy portfolios among the Commission candidates. These negotiations are always tough, with large Member States keen to secure the high-profile, influential policy portfolios. Key appointments in the new Commission include:

• The UK's Baroness Ashton as High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Vice-President of the European Commission
• France's Michel Barnier as Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, including Financial Services
• Günther OETTINGER, from Germany, as Commissioner for Energy
• Denmark's Connie Hedegaard in a new post as Commissioner for Climate Action
• Slovenian Janez POTOČNIK as Commissioner for Environment
• Romania's Dacian CIOLOS as Commissioner for Agriculture
• Maire GEOGHEGAN QUINN from Ireland as Commissioner for Research and Innovation
• Maltese John DALLI as Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy
• Greek Maria DAMANAKI as Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
• Austrian Johannes HAHN as Commissioner for Regional Policy
• Estonian Siim KALLAS as Commissioner for Transport
• Italian Antonio TAJANI as Vice-President of the Commission and Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship

The candidates will now face individual hearings in the European Parliament in the week of 11 January, ahead of MEPs voting on 20 January on whether they accept the proposed Commission as a whole.

A full list of the candidates and their portfolios is available here. Biographies of the Commissioner candidates can be downloaded here.

Author:
Scotland Europa

Categories:

• EU Policy
• EU
• Europe
• European Union

Policy areas:

Article date:
27 Nov 2009

Expiry date of the article:
25 Nov 2010