President Barroso Unveils New European Commission

November 29, 2009 5:47 p.m. EST

Washington, DC (AHN) - The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union is on its way to take over its duties, first time in a post-Lisbon Treaty environs which has given sweeping powers to Brussels to carve a federal Europe.

Jose Manuel Barroso, who was reelected President of the European Commission, after approval by the European Parliament, announced the portfolios responsibilities for the next Commissioners-designate.

President Barroso said: "We have a European program, 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."

"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."

According to the announcement, the new commission 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 December 1 next.

Three of the Vice-Presidents will be women. The new commission 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 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.

The commission statement noted that 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. ? Laszlo 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. ? ?tefan Fule: 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 Malmstrom: Home Affairs. ? Gunter Oettinger: Energy. ? Andris Pielbalgs: Development.* ? Janez Potocnik: Environment. ? Viviane Reding: Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. Vice-President of the Commission. ? Olli Rehn: Economic and Monetary Affairs. ? Maros Sefcovic: Vice-President of the Commission for Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration. ? Algirdas Semeta: 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.