Today, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented her team of Commissioner candidates and their portfolio for the 2024-2029 cycle. The Commissioners-designate will next face the European Parliament’s scrutiny during the hearings with the difficult task to gather a majority. It will be an opportunity for them to outline their vision and priorities and demonstrate that they are committed to tackling the EU's challenges, such as energy security and industrial competitiveness.
Key Commissioners to watch:
- Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for clean, just and competitive transition. Competition policy,
- Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for prosperity and industrial strategy. Industry, SME and single market portfolio,
- Dan Jørgensen,Commissioner for Energy and Housing,
- Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner for Climate, net-zero and Clean Growth,
- Jozef Síkela, Commissioner for International Partnerships,
- Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, water resilience and circular economy.
Executive Director Linda Kalcher commented:
“With Ribera, Hoekstra and Jørgensen, von der Leyen has chosen a dream team that can place her legacy on the Green Deal at the centre of the Clean Industrial Deal. They understand the geopolitical uncertainties, pressure on European companies and import dependencies.”
“In case of a second Trump administration, the three would be well placed to navigate new tariffs, trade threats and tensions, without being naive on China. As strong advocates for moving to a fossil-free energy system, it will be on them to lower LNG imports from the US.”
“The fate of the Commissioner candidates lies now with the European Parliament and especially the centre-right EPP group who will have the biggest sway.”
Director Neil Makaroff analysed:
“The new Commission’s structure is setting the tone: the EU’s industry will be the priority of the mandate. With many Commissioners in charge of different parts of the future Clean Industrial Deal, it'll be crucial for them to work together as a solid Team Europe to make sure it becomes a comprehensive industrial strategy and doesn't end up in isolated actions.
“As Vice-President Executives, Teresa Ribera and Stéphane Séjourné will need to build a strong duo to strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy and engage the green reindustrialisation of our economy. Working together will be crucial to address the challenges the EU is facing: from high energy prices to the fierce industrial competition with China and the US and the risk of underinvestment, they have a lot on their plate.”
On specific personalities, they provided the following comments:
“Teresa Ribera has the rare ability to broker difficult deals: on just transition with Spanish coal workers and a fossil fuel phase out with major petrostates. She will need these skills in Brussels. In her role as Executive Vice President overseeing competition, she will be under scrutiny from all sides: centre-right EPP, industry and international partners,” highlighted Linda Kalcher.
"As a former Renew leader, Stéphane Séjourné knows how to find a compromise in the European Parliament and can be a key deal-maker for the Clean Industrial Deal. He will need to use all his diplomatic skills to find common ground between Member States on how to unlock European investment, support EU-made products in public procurements and reduce our dependencies." highlighted Neil Makaroff
“Dan Jørgensen is the right man for the job as Commissioner for energy and housing. He can deliver on the speed and scale required to move to a fossil-free, affordable energy system for business and households. I expect him to be immune against greenwashing claims that blue hydrogen or various carbon removal technologies will solve all our problems tomorrow while being pragmatic on nuclear,” emphasised Linda Kalcher.
“Wopke Hoekstra has left a good first impression as climate Commissioner in Dubai last year. COP28 was a walk in the park though compared to the upcoming summit in Baku this year. Negotiating a successful climate finance deal is a major undertaking when budgets are tight and a Trump administration looming,” said Linda Kalcher.
“Jozef Síkela has a major task at hand: creating clean investments and trade partnerships as well as upgrading Global Gateway. If done well, this is an opportunity to lower the EU’s dependence on China, enhance security of supply of critical materials and accelerate the global energy transition,” added Linda Kalcher.
