The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced new candidates for key positions in the European Union’s executive body. Each of the 27 EU member states has a representative, ensuring diverse viewpoints at the decision-making table. Here is an overview of the key nominees and their responsibilities in the new EU Commission:
Budget: Piotr Serafin (Poland)
Poland’s nominee for the budget post, Piotr Serafin, currently serves as Poland’s ambassador to the European Union. He has an extensive background in EU matters, having served as the head of the cabinet for Prime Minister Donald Tusk when Tusk was the European Council President between 2014 and 2019. During this time, the EU faced many challenges, including Brexit.
Serafin’s experience includes a stint as Secretary of State during Tusk’s first term as Poland’s Prime Minister from 2008 to 2014. His new role involves creating the EU’s next seven-year budget, a task that requires strong political negotiation skills. Serafin is expected to draw on his previous experience working as the deputy head of the cabinet for the EU budget commissioner, where he contributed to the EU’s 2014-2020 multi-annual budget.
Cohesion Policy: Raffaele Fitto (Italy)
Italy’s Raffaele Fitto, currently serving as European Affairs Minister, has been nominated for the role focusing on cohesion policy. A member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing party, his appointment has sparked concerns among EU lawmakers who may challenge it.
Fitto has managed Italy’s efforts to utilize EU COVID-19 relief funds and has experience as a former member of the European Parliament. Coming from a family of politicians, both he and his father led the southern Puglia region. Despite Fitto’s political background, his selection was surprising, as Italy had hoped for a more influential position within the Commission, given Meloni’s political ties.
Climate: Wopke Hoekstra (Netherlands)
Wopke Hoekstra, who has held the role of EU Climate Commissioner since October 2023, will continue his work with an expanded focus on “clean growth.” This addition to his title reflects the EU’s aim to produce more of its own green technology rather than depend on imports, particularly from China.
Hoekstra, 48, has a diverse career background, including experience working for Shell, the consulting firm McKinsey, and serving as finance and foreign minister in the Netherlands. Despite initial resistance to his appointment due to his ties to the center-right European People’s Party and his past role at Shell, he was confirmed as the EU’s climate chief. He now aims to push the EU’s green agenda forward.
Competition: Teresa Ribera (Spain)
Spain’s Teresa Ribera, a strong proponent of climate action, has been Spain’s Minister for the Ecological Transition since 2018. She has played a key role in accelerating Spain’s shift to renewable energy and has often clashed with domestic companies over her firm policies.
Ribera’s new role involves ensuring fair economic competition within the EU’s single market. This will include oversight of big technology companies, continuing the work of the current antitrust chief, Margrethe Vestager. Ribera, 55, is one of the few women in the Commission, as most governments did not heed von der Leyen’s call to nominate both male and female candidates.
Defence: Andrius Kubilius (Lithuania)
Lithuania’s Andrius Kubilius, 67, has been nominated for the defense post. He has twice served as Lithuania’s Prime Minister, first from 1999 to 2000 and later from 2008 to 2012. Kubilius pushed through difficult reforms during economic crises, including budget cuts and tax hikes, but his popularity suffered as a result.
In his new role, he will work to enhance cooperation among European governments and defense manufacturers to boost production capacity and reduce fragmentation in the defense sector. Kubilius’ experience in handling economic challenges and policy reforms will be crucial for this post.
Economy: Valdis Dombrovskis (Latvia)
Latvia’s Valdis Dombrovskis will continue in the Commission as the nominee for the economy portfolio. Dombrovskis has served as both the Latvian Prime Minister and Finance Minister in the past. In his role as commissioner, he has focused on financial services and economic management in the EU.
Dombrovskis also took on trade responsibilities, aiming to ease trade tensions between the EU and the United States following the Trump administration. In his new term, his primary task will be to simplify the EU’s complex regulatory frameworks, helping boost economic efficiency.
Energy: Dan Jorgensen (Denmark)
Denmark’s nominee for the energy portfolio is Dan Jorgensen, the country’s Minister for Development and Global Climate Policy. Jorgensen, 49, has driven Denmark’s ambitious climate policies, such as laws to reduce emissions by 70% from 1990 levels within a decade and phasing out oil and gas extraction in the North Sea by 2050. He has also been active in global climate negotiations and served as a member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2013. In his new role, he will continue advocating for clean energy initiatives within the EU.
Foreign Policy: Kaja Kallas (Estonia)
Kaja Kallas, 47, Estonia’s Prime Minister from 2021 to 2024, is known for her vocal criticism of Russia and strong support for Ukraine’s bid to join the EU and NATO. During her time as prime minister, Estonia became one of the largest per-capita donors of military aid to Ukraine.
Despite her popularity abroad, Kallas faced domestic scrutiny when it was revealed that her husband was involved in a business that operated in Russia, even as she publicly condemned such actions. As the new foreign policy head, Kallas will navigate complex international relations and uphold EU values.
Internal Affairs/Migration: Magnus Brunner (Austria)
Magnus Brunner, Austria’s Finance Minister, has been nominated for the internal affairs and migration portfolio. His key achievement in Austria was passing a law to prevent “cold progression,” where taxpayers move into higher tax brackets due to inflation.
Brunner, 52, from the alpine province of Vorarlberg, has enacted traditional conservative policies. However, critics argue that he has not done enough to combat rising inflation. His new role will involve managing migration issues and internal affairs within the EU.
Industrial Strategy: Stéphane Séjourné (France)
France’s Stéphane Séjourné, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, has been appointed to oversee the EU’s industrial strategy. At 39, Séjourné has a background as a member of the European Parliament and chairs Macron’s political party, Renaissance. Despite only recently taking on the role of France’s foreign minister in January, he has been a loyal advocate of Macron’s policies. His focus will be on strengthening Europe’s industrial competitiveness.
Trade: Maros Sefcovic (Slovakia)
Slovakia’s Maros Sefcovic, a former diplomat, has been a member of the European Commission since 2009. In his most recent role, he managed EU relations, including those with the UK after Brexit, contributing to the Windsor Framework, which eased trade concerns in Northern Ireland.
Sefcovic will now handle trade and economic security, ensuring the EU has robust controls over technology exports that could be used militarily by competitors like China. His experience as a diplomat will be crucial in navigating the EU’s complex trade relationships.
These appointments mark a new chapter for the European Union, with experienced leaders from Latvia, Lithuania, and across Europe taking on vital roles in shaping the continent’s future policies.
