‘This time it’s different’ was the motto for the 2014 elections to the European Parliament. And indeed, a few months later, shaping the new Commission college seems to be proving the point. For the first time, there will be seven Commission vice-presidents, each leading a project team. The Vice-Presidents will act as coordinators for a number of portfolios for which individual Commissioners have responsibility. Read the EC statement.
This week, the European Parliament will hold hearings for 6 Vice-Presidents-designate. EPRS has prepared a short overview of the people, the portfolios and the priorities, which will be subject to scrutiny by the EP Committees.
Federica Mogherini
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission
Answers to the European Parliament Questionaire to the Commissioner-designate
Vice-President
Will guide the work of the Commissioners for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations; Trade; International Cooperation and Development; and Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management EP Committee responsible for the hearing Foreign Affairs (AFET)
Biography
Born in 1973, Federica Mogherini studied international relations, with particular focus on the relationship between religion and politics in Islamic societies. Previously an adviser to her party, the Democratic Party, on foreign affairs, she was first elected to the Italian parliament in 2009, where she sat on the foreign affairs and defence committees. She was appointed Foreign Minister in February 2014.
Federica Mogherini – High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President (Français, Deutsch)
Hearing due to be held on Monday 6 October at 18.30 hours. Live broadcast.
Frans Timmermans
First Vice-President – Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and Charter of Fundamental Rights
Answers to the European Parliament Questionaire to the Commissioner-designate
Vice-President
Will steer and coordinate the work of all Commissioners in his areas of responsibility. Will also guide the work of the Commissioners for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality; and Migration and Home Affairs.
EP body responsible for the Hearing
The Hearing will take the form of a meeting of the Conference of Presidents of Political Groups open to all Members of the European Parliament.
Biography
Born in 1961, Frans Timmermans holds degrees in French literature, European law and history. As well as service in the Dutch Foreign Ministry, he worked for European Commissioner Hans van den Broek. Since 1998, he has been a Member of the Dutch Parliament. He was Secretary of State for Foreign and European Affairs from 2007 to 2010, and Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2014.
Frans Timmermans – First Vice-President: Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights (Français, Deutsch)
Hearing due to be held on Tuesday 7 October at 14.30 hours. Live broadcast.
Kristalina Georgieva
Vice President – Budget and Human Resources
Answers to the European Parliament Questionaire to the Commissioner-designate
Vice-President
Will guide the work of all Commissioners in her area of responsibility.
EP Committees responsible for the Hearing
Budgets (BUDG)
Budgetary Control (CONT)
Legal Affairs (JURI)
Biography
Born in 1953, Kristalina Georgieva studied and taught at the University of National and World Economy in Sofia. She joined the World Bank in 1993, where she was the Bank’s director for Russia (2004-07) and one of the Bank’s Vice-Presidents from 2008 to the end of 2009. She was Commissioner responsible for international cooperation, humanitarian aid and crisis response In the outgoing Commission.
Kristalina Georgieva – Vice-President for Budget and Human Resources (Français, Deutsch)
Hearing due to be held on Thursday 2 October at 13.30 hours. Recording of the hearing.
Andrus Ansip
Vice-President – Digital Single Market
Answers to the European Parliament Questionaire to the Commissioner-designate
Vice-President
Will steer and coordinate the work of the Commissioners for Digital Economy and Society; Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs; Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility; Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality; Economic and Financial Affairs, taxation and Customs; Regional Policy; and Agriculture and Rural Development.
EP Committee responsible for the hearing
Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO)
Biography
Born in 1957, Andrus Ansip is a chemistry graduate of the University of Tartu. He was Mayor of Tartu from 1998 to 2004, then, at national level, was Minister for the Economy from 2003 to 2005, and Prime Minister from 2005 to 2014.
Andrus Ansip – Vice-President for the Digital Single Market (Français, Deutsch)
Hearing due to be held on Monday 6 October at 18.30 hours. Live broadcast.
Alenka Bratušek
Vice-President – Energy Union
Answers to the European Parliament Questionaire to the Commissioner-designate
Vice-President
Will steer and coordinate the work of the Commissioners for Climate Action and Energy; Transport and Space; Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs; Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries; Regional Policy; Agriculture and Rural Development; and Research, Science and Innovation.
EP Committees responsible for the Hearing
Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)
Biography
Born in 1970, Alenka Bratušek holds a Master’s degree in management. She served as head of the Directorate for the State Budget at the Ministry of Finance. In 2011 she was elected a Member of Parliament and has chaired the parliamentary Committee for Budget Control. In 2013, she became Prime Minister but resigned in May 2014, triggering elections.
Alenka Bratušek – Vice-President for Energy Union (Français, Deutsch)
Hearing due to be held on Monday 6 October at 14.30 hours. Live broadcast.
Valdis Dombrovskis
Vice-President – The Euro and Social Dialogue
Answers to the European Parliament Questionaire to the Commissioner-designate
Vice-President
Will steer and coordinate the work of the Commissioners for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs; Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility; Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union; Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs; Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality; and Regional Policy.
EP Committees responsible for the Hearing
Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)
Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)
Biography
Born in 1971, Valdis Dombrovskis is a graduate in engineering economics and in physics. He was a Member of Parliament and Minister for Finance from 2002 to 2004, Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009, and Prime Minister from 2009 to 2014. He was again elected to the European Parliament in May 2014, where he sits in the EPP Group.
Valdis Dombrovskis – Vice-President for the Euro and Social Dialogue (Français, Deutsch)
Hearing due to be held on Monday 6 October at 14.30 hours. Live broadcast.
Jyrki Katainen
Vice-President – Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness
Answers to the European Parliament Questionaire to the Commissioner-designate
Vice-President
Will steer and coordinate the work of the Commissioners for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs; Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility; Regional Policy; Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs; Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union; Digital Economy and Society; Climate Action and Energy; and Transport and Space.
EP Committees responsible for the Hearing
Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)
Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)
Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)
Biography
Born in 1972, Jyrki Katainen has a Master’s degree in political science from the University of Tampere. He was Minister for Finance from 2007 to 2011 and Prime Minister from 2011 to 2014. He took over as European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro in the outgoing Commission on 16 July 2014.
Jyrki Katainen – Vice-President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness (Français, Deutsch)
Hearing due to be held on Tuesday 7 October at 10.00 hours. Live broadcast.
