Ursula von der Leyen finally presented his government team this Tuesday for his second term at the head of the European Commission between 2024 and 2029. A college of commissioners containing newly created posts that reflect their new political priorities: defense, housing or the Mediterranean.
The German has also introduced significant changes to the structure of the College of Commissioners compared to her first term. You will have a total of six vice-presidents, but all with executive functions and with a portfolio assigned to exclusive responsibility. In the old Community Executive there were seven vice-presidents, but only three executives and the rest were purely symbolic.
Von der Leyen has not reached her parity target between men and women. As he explained at a press conference, when he received the first proposal of candidates, there were only 22% women and 78% men, which he called “unacceptable”. The German kept up the pressure until the end and now has 11 women, or 40%. The president tried to compensate for this imbalance by reversing the situation at the top with four female vice-presidents and two female vice-presidents.
[Von der Leyen nombra a Teresa Ribera vicepresidenta ejecutiva de Competencia y Transición Ecológica]
Teresa Ribera (SPAIN): Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Fair and Competitive Transition and Responsible Competition. It will lead work to ensure Europe stays on track to meet its targets set out in the European Green Deal and at the same time decarbonise and reindustrialise its economy. It will be responsible for sanctioning monopolistic abuses by large platforms and authorising or blocking mergers.
Henna Krikkunen (FINLAND): Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy. He will also be responsible for the digital wallet and advanced technologies. Von der Leyen tasked him with “the internal and external aspects of security, but also with strengthening the foundations of our democracy, such as the rule of law, and protecting it wherever it is under attack.”
Stéphane Séjourné (FRANCE): Deputy Director General of Prosperity and Industrial Strategy. She will also be responsible for the Industry, SMEs and Single Market portfolio. “She will lead the work to create the conditions for our businesses to thrive, from investment and innovation to economic stability and economic and commercial security,” the President explains.
Kaja Kallas (ESTONIA): Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs. “We are in a time of geostrategic rivalries and instability. Our foreign and security policy must be designed with this reality in mind and must be more aligned with our own interests. I know that I can count on her to be the bridge between our internal relations and external policies, and to ensure that we remain a geopolitical Commission,” Von der Leyen said.
Roxana Minzatu (ROMANIA): Executive Vice President for Personnel, Qualifications and PreparationShe will be responsible for the education and culture portfolio and will have responsibilities for demography. The German company has also entrusted her with the supervision of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Raffaele Fitto (ITALY): Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms. He will be in charge of the portfolio of cohesion policy, regional development and cities. “We will benefit from their vast experience to help us modernise and strengthen our cohesion, investment and growth policies,” says Von der Leyen. This is a much less powerful portfolio than initially planned: the Economy and Recovery Plan. The German corrected himself after the protests of the socialists and liberals against the envoy of the radical right government of Giorgia Meloni.
Maros Sefcovic (SLOVAKIA): Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security. This is a new portfolio that also includes customs policy. Sefcovic is the longest-serving member of the EU executive, serving his fourth consecutive term. Von der Leyen has given him a second role, for which he will report directly to her: Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency.
Valdis Dombrovskis (LATVIA): Commissioner for Economy and Productivity. He is another veteran, now in his third term. He is losing his status as executive vice-president, but in exchange Von der Leyen has also given him the role of commissioner for implementation and simplification, to which he will have to report directly to her.
Dubravka Suica (CROATIA): Commissioner for the Mediterranean. He will also be responsible for the southern district in general. “He will work closely with Kaja Kallas – and many other commissioners – to develop our common interests with the region,” says the president.
Olivér Várhely (HUNGARY): Commissioner for Animal Health and Welfare. In his second term, Viktor Orbán’s controversial envoy will be given a portfolio with less weight than before: enlargement and neighbourhood policy. “He will be responsible for building the European Health Union and continuing the work of fighting cancer and health prevention,” the German said.
Wopke Hoekstra (NETHERLANDS): Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero Emissions and Clean Growth. His powers largely overlap with those of Teresa Ribera, although she will ultimately decide as executive vice-president. The Dutchman “will continue to work on implementation and adaptation, on climate diplomacy and on decarbonisation”. He also retains the Taxation portfolio.
Andrius Kubilius (LITHUANIA): Defence Commissioner. He will work on the development of the European Defence Union and the promotion of industrial capacity and Community investments.
Marta Kos (SLOVENIA): Commissioner for Enlargement and UkraineThe Slovenian candidate is still awaiting confirmation from her country’s parliament, after the Slovenian government bowed to pressure from von der Leyen and replaced its original candidate with a woman. “It will strive to support Ukraine and continue the reconstruction work, and it will help candidate countries prepare for accession,” the president said.
Josef Síkela (CZECH REPUBLIC): Commissioner for International Partnerships. His main responsibility will be to lead the EU’s investment strategy in infrastructure projects around the world, known as the Global Gateway Initiative, which aims to rival China’s new Silk Road.
Costas Kadis (CYPRUS): Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans. “I count on their expertise to help build a resilient, competitive and sustainable sector and to introduce the first European Oceans Pact,” says Von der Leyen.
Maria Luís Albuquerque (PORTUGAL): Commissioner for Financial Services and Savings and Investment Union. Its role is to complete the Capital Markets Union and ensure that private investment drives productivity and innovation in the EU.
Hadja Lahbib (BELGIUM): Commissioner responsible for crisis preparedness and management. “This is another new portfolio that will deal with resilience, preparedness and civil protection. It will be responsible for leading our efforts in crisis management and humanitarian aid,” says Von der Leyen.
Magnus Brunner (AUSTRIA): Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration. The former Austrian finance minister had aspired to a major economic portfolio, but von der Leyen entrusted him with the implementation of the Asylum and Migration Pact, as well as “strengthening our borders” and developing a new internal security strategy.
Jessika Roswall (SWEDEN): Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and the Competitive Circular Economy. “This will help develop a more circular and competitive economy. And it will lead the work on water resilience, which is a major priority for the years to come,” the president said.
Piotr Serafin (POLAND): Commissioner for Budgets and Anti-Fraud. The former chief of staff of Donald Tusk when he was President of the European Council will report directly to Von der Leyen. His priority will be to prepare the next multiannual budget 2027-2034. He will also have administrative powers to continue the modernisation of the Community executive.
Dan Jorgensen (DENMARK): Commissioner for Energy and Housing. Von der Leyen has set as priorities measures to reduce energy prices, increase investment in clean energy and reduce the EU’s energy dependency. “He will be the first Commissioner for Housing in history, dealing with everything from energy efficiency to investment and construction,” the President said.
Ekaterina Zaharieva (BULGARIA): Commissioner for Research and Innovation. “We must put research and innovation, science and technology at the heart of our economy. The Commissioner will help ensure that we invest more and focus our spending on strategic priorities and disruptive innovation,” says Von der Leyen.
Michael McGrath (IRELAND): Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law“I have entrusted him with the responsibility of promoting the European Shield of Democracy. He will also lead our work on the rule of law, the fight against corruption and consumer protection,” the German said.
Apostolos Tzitzikostas (GREECE): Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. “These are essential sectors for our competitiveness, but also for our transitions, for connecting people and boosting local economies.”
Christophe Hansen (LUXEMBOURG): Commissioner for Agriculture and Food. Based on the strategic dialogue with the sector, Hansen is to develop a vision for agriculture and food within the first 100 days of his mandate.
Glenn Micallef (MALTA): Commissioner for Intergenerational Equity, Culture, Youth and Sport. The Maltese government ignored von der Leyen’s request to change its candidate to a woman and is left with one of the portfolios with the least weight and content.
