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Brussels 17 September 2024 Following weeks of rumours, pressure from Member States and some final days of uncertainties, today we finally got to see the proposed composition of a new College of European Commissioners.
CAN Europe reacts on the proposed new College’s structure, and on key Commissioners-designate:
On the New College of Commissioner’s Direction of Travel
‘CAN Europe appreciates Ursula von der Leyen’s leadership that made it possible to have four women as Executive Vice-Presidents despite Member States not prioritising a gender balanced College’ said Chiara Martinelli, Director at CAN Europe. ‘The proposed new college structure signals a desire for continuity of the European Green Deal and further climate action – indicating that there is no space for regression, but rather an intention to raise ambition on related industrial and economic policies’.
‘CAN Europe also welcomes that the interconnectedness of the crises Europe and the world is experiencing has been better reflected in the new collegial approach – but there remains a worrying lack of clarity on who calls the shots in this way of working’ continues Chiara Martinelli. ‘In the upcoming Hearings, CAN Europe will continue to play an active role in pressuring Commissioners-designate to further clarify their vision for a fast, fair and ambitious implementation of the European Green Deal’.
On Teresa Ribera Rodríguez, Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition
‘Ursula von der Leyen highlights in every mission letter that the European Green Deal continues to be the leading strategic framework for the new Commission and the portfolio of Teresa Ribera is a guarantor that this will be maintained throughout the mandate’ said Cornelia Maarfield, Head of Energy at CAN Europe. ‘We welcome the clarification that competition policy will have to contribute to Green Deal objectives to ensure that industry decarbonises, becomes more circular and competitive at the same time. While ‘just’ is in the title of the new Executive Vice-President, we expect the Commission to put a ‘Social Deal’ on the same level as an ‘Industrial Deal’ to ensure not only industry manages the transition but households and people are at the core of all policies’.
On Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy
‘As an Executive Vice President Stéphane Séjourné has the immense task to lead on a coordinated and coherent European industrial policy, working for all Member States’ said Greg Van Elsen, Senior Production & Consumption Coordinator at CAN Europe. ‘It is crucial that this includes the transformation of industrial activities to help tackle the triple planetary crisis: pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change. We count on him to spearhead a new approach for industrial policy through inclusive processes for all stakeholders, including civil society, and ensure that prosperity and competitiveness have positive impacts for citizens, workers and the planet’.
On Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms
‘With Next Generation EU ending in 2026, the size and use of cohesion policy funds will be absolutely central for financing the green transition in Member States, regions and cities across the EU’ said Olivier Vardakoulias, Finance & Subsidies Policy Coordinator at CAN Europe. ‘The upcoming European Commission proposal on the next EU budget, including on the future of cohesion policy and the post-Next Generation EU framework, needs to ensure that sufficient funds are made available, both in quantity and quality, for achieving ambitious just energy transition, nature, and circular economy targets for 2030 and beyond’.
On Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth
‘The renomination of Wopke Hoekstra as Climate Commissioner will hopefully ensure continuity with the Commission’s climate policy from the previous College, including defending the 2040 target ambition he proposed earlier this year’ said Sven Harmeling, Head of Climate at CAN Europe. ‘CAN Europe welcomes his focus on the implementation of climate policies which still need to pick up speed to meet, or exceed the EU´s Fit for 55 targets for 2030. The inclusion of Taxation in the portfolio raises hopes that future taxation initiatives will reflect the polluter pays principle – while being socially just. A permanent tax on the fossil fuel industry would be a good place to start’.
On Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing
‘A new Commissioner for Energy and Housing is a major step forward since there is a strong interlink between the two sectors’ said Eva Brardinelli, Buildings Policy Coordinator at CAN Europe. ‘We have seen how rising energy prices and higher rent costs have burdened households, making it difficult for many to afford one or the other. Commissioner-designate Jørgensen has a major opportunity to approach both of these concerns in a holistic manner, pushing for more widespread deep renovations across the EU’s widely inefficient building sector which will help alleviate energy poverty, while addressing the worsening climate crisis’.
On Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security; Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency
We expect Maroš Šefčovič in his new role to push for a strong alignment of trade policies with the EU’s climate commitments under the European Green Deal’ said Audrey Changoe, Trade & Investment Policy Coordinator at CAN Europe. ‘This means a concrete action plan to reduce trade in environmentally harmful and unsustainable products and halting negotiations of Free Trade Agreements that clearly override climate goals, such as the EU-Mercosur deal. We trust Šefčovič will take a proactive approach to increase transparency of trade agreements that are being negotiated, including establishing meaningful and effective consultation of civil society and human rights’ protection’.
ENDS
Notes to the editors:
- CAN Europe recently published its Energy Compass for the next European Commission, outlining five priorities for the 2024-29 policy cycle. On 26 September, CAN Europe will be organising a Policy Conference ‘Shaping Europe’s Energy: A Compass for the Next Commission’ at the Renaissance Brussels Hotel – register here
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