NEWS

19 settembre 2024 

234/24/dp 

Oggetto: European Commission's New Leadership and Portfolios - Aggionamenti chiave per gli Associati OCEAN 

Vi inviamo la comunicazione di OCEAN, con cui vengono trasmessi i nominativi dei Commissari designati a capo delle Commissioni Europee, già insediati dal 18 luglio u.s., che saranno ufficialmente in carica a seguito di ratifica del Consiglio Europeo. 

Oltre alla lista completa dei nominativi dei nuovi Commissari, sono anche indicati i responsabili delle Aree di interesse per OCEAN. 

COMUNICAZIONE OCEAN

Subject: European Commission's New Leadership and Portfolios – Key Updates for OCEAN Members 

Dear OCEAN Board Members, CEVVT Working Group Members, and Sustainability Working Group Members, 

On 18 July 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, following her re-election, presented her Political Guidelines for the 2024-2029 term. 

You can watch her address to the European Parliament on EbS+ or read the full speech on the Press Corner. 

The new Political Guidelines set the strategic direction for the coming years, including key priorities for the Commission. 

Public hearings for Commissioners-designate are currently being held in the European Parliament, after which the Commission will be formally appointed by the European Council. 

Key Commissioners for OCEAN's Focus Areas: 

As OCEAN is committed to trade, customs, excise, VAT, and sustainability, here are the Commissioners most relevant to our work: 

- Maroš Šefčovič (Slovakia): Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, also responsible for Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency. Customs and trade professionals should pay particular attention to his role. It is unclear if he will look after VAT and Excise as well (likely). 

- Wopke Hoekstra (Netherlands): Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero, and Clean Growth. His focus on sustainability will directly impact the blue economy and green transport initiatives important to OCEAN.

 - Apostolos Tzitzikostas (Greece): Commissioner for Sustainable Transport. Sustainable logistics, maritime transport, and green tourism are priorities here, making this a critical portfolio for OCEAN members. 

- Costas Kadis (Cyprus): Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans. This portfolio focuses on the sustainable management of marine resources and is vital for OCEAN’s maritime initiatives, if any. 

- Jessika Roswall (Sweden): Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy. Her work will drive the circular economy agenda, further strengthening OCEAN’s focus on environmental sustainability.

Full List of Commissioners-Designate and Their Nationalities: 

Below is the complete list of the Commissioners-designate and their respective portfolios, including their nationalities:

 - Teresa Ribera Rodríguez (Spain) – Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition 

- Henna Virkkunen (Finland) – Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy 

- Stéphane Séjourné (France) – Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy 

- Kaja Kallas (Estonia) – High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy 

- Roxana Mînzatu (Romania) – Executive Vice-President for People, Skills, and Preparedness 

- Raffaele Fitto (Italy) – Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms 

- Valdis Dombrovskis (Latvia) – Commissioner for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification 

- Dubravka Šuica (Croatia) – Commissioner for Mediterranean 

- Olivér Várhelyi (Hungary) – Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare 

- Andrius Kubilius (Lithuania) – Commissioner for Defence and Space 

- Marta Kos (Slovenia)* – Commissioner for Enlargement 

- Jozef Síkela (Czech Republic) – Commissioner for International Partnerships 

- Maria Luís Albuquerque (Portugal) – Commissioner for Financial Services, VAT, and the Savings and Investments Union 

- Hadja Lahbib (Belgium) – Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management; Equality 

- Magnus Brunner (Austria) – Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration 

- Piotr Serafin (Poland) – Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud, and Public Administration 

- Dan Jørgensen (Denmark) – Commissioner for Energy and Housing 

- Ekaterina Zaharieva (Bulgaria) – Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation 

- Michael McGrath (Ireland) – Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, and the Rule of Law 

- Apostolos Tzitzikostas (Greece) – Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism 

- Christophe Hansen (Luxembourg) – Commissioner for Agriculture and Food 

- Glenn Micallef (Malta) – Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture, and Sport You can download the full list of Commissioners-designate and their mission letters here. 

This new leadership will have a significant influence on Europe’s policy direction, and OCEAN will need to engage with the relevant portfolios for customs, excise, VAT, trade, sustainability, and fisheries. 

Should you need further insights into these portfolios or have any questions, feel free to reach out. We will discuss these appointments also at the next OCEAN meetings. 

Best regards, 

Executive Director OCEAN Secretariat