President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, unveils his new team

José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, today announced the portfolios responsibilities for the next Commission. The President has held detailed consultations with all the Commissioners-designate in order to assign the right jobs to the right people. The President believes that this team can deliver the agenda for change he set out in the political guidelines he presented in September, following his nomination by all 27 Member States and before his approval as President of the next Commission by the European Parliament.

President Barroso said: “We have a European programme, and now we have a European team. On the basis of the nominations by the Member States, I have sought to design a College which can generate fresh ideas and new momentum on the biggest challenges we face in Europe today. This College will implement the political guidelines that I presented to the European Parliament. I am confident that this College will be decisive in steering Europe towards recovery and a sustainable social market economy that works for the people. I have put together a strong Commission to fill the enhanced role of Europe, including on the world stage, provided by the Lisbon Treaty. One of the key tasks of this College will be to give life to the new opportunities provided by the Lisbon Treaty. The Commissioners-designate will present themselves in the hearings before the European Parliament in January. After the vote of consent of the Parliament, it will be time to start to work and to produce results for our citizens.”

The new College will have 7 Vice-Presidents, including Vice-President Baroness Catherine Ashton who will, at the same time, be the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December next. Three of the Vice-Presidents will be women. The new College will have 27 members, including President Barroso, one from each Member State. It includes 9 women. The members of the College come from different political families, notably the European People’s Party (EPP), the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S & D), and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE). 14 members, including the President, were already members of the outgoing College.

President Barroso has given a new look to the College of his second mandate. He has announced a number of new portfolios: Climate Action; Home Affairs; Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. He has reconfigured a number of other portfolios: Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth; Health and Consumer Policy; Industry and Entrepreneurship; Research and Innovation; International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response. There will be a new emphasis on inclusion in the Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion portfolio, and a renewed focus with the Digital Agenda portfolio.

Responsibilities of the Commissioners-designate:

• Joaquín ALMUNIA: Competition. Vice-President of the Commission.

• László ANDOR: Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.

• Baroness Catherine ASHTON: High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security and Vice-President of the Commission.

• Michel BARNIER: Internal Market and Services.

• Dacian CIOLOS: Agriculture and Rural Development.

• John DALLI: Health and Consumer Policy.

• Maria DAMANAKI: Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

• Karel DE GUCHT: Trade.

• Štefan FÜLE: Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy. *

• Johannes HAHN: Regional Policy.

• Connie HEDEGAARD: Climate Action.

• Maire GEOGHEGAN-QUINN: Research and Innovation.

• Rumiana JELEVA: International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response. *

• Siim KALLAS: Transport. Vice-President of the Commission.

• Neelie KROES: Digital Agenda. Vice-President of the Commission.

• Janusz LEWANDOWSKI: Budget and Financial Programming.

• Cecilia MALMSTRÖM: Home Affairs.

• Günter OETTINGER: Energy.

• Andris PIEBALGS: Development.*

• Janez POTOČNIK: Environment.

• Viviane REDING: Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. Vice-President of the Commission.

• Olli REHN: Economic and Monetary Affairs.

• Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ: Vice-President of the Commission for Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration.

• Algirdas ŠEMETA: Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud.

• Antonio TAJANI: Industry and Entrepreneurship. Vice-President of the Commission.

• Androulla VASSILIOU: Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth.

* In close cooperation with the High Representative/Vice-President in accordance with the treaties.

A table with a more detailed description of the portfolio responsibilities is attached.

Baroness Ashton will be the 1 st Vice-President. However, having regard to her specific functions, notably in the Council, the replacement of the President in his absence will be assured by the other Vice-Presidents, in the order of precedence defined by the President. The order of precedence is: Viviane Reding, Joaquín Almunia, Siim Kallas, Neelie Kroes, Antonio Tajani, Maro š Š ef č ovi č .