A briefing from European Movement Ireland

Background
Following months of speculation, recommendation, nominations and interviews, the European Commission President designate, Jean-Claude Juncker, today announced his new College of Commissioners.  In addition to his role as President and the previously announced appointment of Italian Foreign Minister, Federica Mogherini, as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Policy and Security Policy, Mr Juncker today announced the team of 26 new European Commissioners.

The new College includes five former prime ministers, four deputy prime ministers and seven returning commissioners, appointed for a new five-year term.

Mr Juncker also restructured and merged some of the portfolios.  The European and Monetary Affairs portfolio, for example, was replaced with Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs; while the Environment portfolio was merged with Marine and Fisheries.  Energy and Climate Change have also been merged into one portfolio.

The nominees will now go before hearings of the relevant European Parliament Committees; these hearings will begin the week of Monday 29 September and are expected to last for a number of weeks.  Approval from the European Parliament is required for the new Commission to take office by 1 November as hoped.

Listed below is the full line-up of Mr Juncker’s team, including which political family they belong to:

EPP = European People’s Party
PES = Party of European Socialists
ALDE = Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
ECR = European Conservatives and Reformists
The New Commission
President: Mr Jean-Claude Juncker
(EPP, Luxembourg)
Luxembourg Prime Minister from 1995 to 2013 and Chairman of the Eurogroup from 2005 to 2013

First Vice-President for Rule of Law and Better Fundamental Rights: Mr Frans Timmermans
(PES, the Netherlands)
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs

Vice-President for Digital Single Market: Mr Andrus Ansip
(ALDE, Estonia)
Estonian Prime Minister from 2005 to 2014

Vice-President for Energy Union: Ms Alenka Bratusek
(ALDE, Slovenia)
Slovenian Prime Minister from 2013 to 2014

Vice-President for the Fura and Social Dialogue: Mr Valdis Dombrovskis
(EPP, Lativa)
Latvian Prime Minister from 2009 to 2014

Vice-President for Budget and Human Resources: Ms Kristalina Georgieva
(EPP, Bulgaria)
Outgoing European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis

Vice-President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness: Mr Jyrki Katainen
(EPP, Finland)
Finnish Prime Minister from 2011 to 2014

High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Policy / Vice-President: Ms Federica Mogherini
(PES, Italy)
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs

Commissioner for Health and Food Safety: Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis
(PES, Lithuania)
Former Minister for Health

Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs: Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos
(EPP, Greece)
Former Minister of National Defence and Mayor of Athens

Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs: Ms Elzbieta Bienkowska
(EPP, Poland)
Former Deputy Prime Minister

Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy: Mr Miguel Arias Canete
(EPP, Spain)
Former Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Environment

Commissioner for Regional Policy: Ms Corina Cretu
(PES, Romania)
Member of the European Parliament from 2007 to 2014

Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiators: Mr Johannes Hahn
(EPP, Austria)
Outgoing European Commissioner for Regional Policy

Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union: Lord Jonathan Hill
(ECR, United Kingdom)
Former Leader of the House of Lords

Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development: Mr Phil Hogan
(EPP, Ireland)
Former Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality: Ms Vera Jourova
(ALDE, Czech Republic)
Former Minister for Regional Development

Commissioner for Trade: Ms Cecilia Malmstrom
(ALDE, Sweden)
Outgoing European Commissioner for Home Affairs

Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development: Mr Neven Mimica
(PES, Croatia)
Former Deputy Prime Minister

Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation: Mr Carlos Moedas
(EPP, Portugal)
Former Secretary of State to the Prime Minister

Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs: Mr Pierre Moscovici
(PES, France)
Former Minister for Finance

Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Citizenship: Mr Tibor Navracsics
(EPP, Hungary)
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs

Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society: Mr Gunther Oettinger
(EPP, Germany)
Outgoing European Commissioner for Energy

Commissioner for Transport and Space: Mr Maroš Šefčovič
(PES, Slovakia)
Outgoing European Commissioner for Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration

Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management: Mr Christos Stylianides
(EPP, Cyprus)
Former Government Spokesperson of the Republic of Cyprus

Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility: Ms Marianne Thyssen
(EPP, Belgium)
Member of the European Parliament from 1991 to 2014

Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries: Mr Karmenu Vella
(PES, Malta)
Former Minister for Tourism

Commissioner for Competition: Ms Margrethe Vestager
(ALDE, Denmark)
Former Deputy Prime Minister

For more jargon-free briefings, visit EM Ireland’s Just the Facts webpage.