Today Ursula von der Leyen announced the distribution of portfolios among the Commissioners-designate, as well as the way the next European Commission will be organised. With 10 out of the 27 commissioners, the Social Democrats are now a leading force in the Commission, with more posts than any other European political family.

 

 

 

“The European Union is in need of profound and urgent reform, and it is very good news that Social Democrats will have the biggest weight in the new college of Commissioners. Our pressure from day one to ensure gender balance between the Commissioners has also paid off. With gender parity in the S&D team of nominated Commissioners, we have led by example."

 

“Our political group supported Ursula von der Leyen on the condition that she would take up our progressive agenda. That was a first step: now the second step to ensure change is having strong political figures taking responsibility of crucial portfolios such as Climate and Sustainability, Economy, Cohesion, Jobs, Home Affairs and Gender Equality. All these policy areas are at the core of the transformation Europe needs, and our team of S&D Commissioners will make sure that the next Commission delivers on its promises.

 

“We will keep insisting on a game-changer for Europe on three fronts: reinforcing democracy within the EU; establishing a proper EU migration and asylum policy along with renewed partnerships with neighbouring countries; and achieving an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable Europe by 2030. The leading role of Frans Timmermans will bring more horizontal coordination, coherence and efficiency for a just transition to a sustainable society. In a global world, the EU international agenda is essential to pursuing our values through strengthened multilateralism, and the new high representative Josep Borrell has the experience and the vision to deliver.

 

"When we hear the Commissioners-designate in the Parliament in the coming weeks we will evaluate them on the basis of their commitment and their competence to accomplish such reforms. We will make sure that they will all be up to the task in their respective policy area, keeping the UN Sustainable Development Goals as our guiding frame both for EU internal and external policies."

 

 

Below the list of the S&D candidates to the Commission and their portfolios:

 

Joseph Borrell (Spain):  High-Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission

 

Frans Timmermans (Netherlands): executive vice-president for Climate Action

 

Maroš Šefčovič (Slovakia): vice-president for Inter-institutional Relations and Foresight

 

Paolo Gentiloni (Italy):  Economy

 

Jutta Urpilainen (Finland): International Partnerships

 

Nicolas Schmit (Luxembourg): Jobs

 

Helena Dalli (Malta): Equality

 

Elisa Ferreira (Portugal): Cohesion and Reforms

 

Rovana Plumb (Romania): Transport

 

Ylva Johansson (Sweden): Home Affairs