European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen has committed to making climate change action central to the next commission’s new structure.
The new commission is structured around the objectives Von der Leyen was elected on by the European Parliament.
“The EU must lead the transition to a healthy planet and a new digital world. But it can only do so by bringing people together and upgrading our unique social market economy to fit today’s new ambitions,” according to a statement from the commission.
Von der Leyen said: “My commission will be a geopolitical commission committed to sustainable policies.
“And I want the European Union to be the guardian of multilateralism. Because we know that we are stronger by doing together what we cannot do alone.”
The new college will have eight vice presidents, responsible for the top priorities in the Political Guidelines and will steer the commission’s work on the most important overarching issues, such as the European Green Deal.
Three executive vice presidents will have a double function, as both vice president responsible for one of three core topics of the president-elect’s agenda and commissioners.
Executive vice president Frans Timmermans, from the Netherlands, will coordinate the work on the European Green Deal. He will also manage climate action policy, supported by the directorate-general for climate action.
Von der Leyen said: “I want the European Green Deal to become Europe’s hallmark.
“At the heart of it is our commitment to becoming the world’s first climate-neutral continent. It is also a long-term economic imperative: those who act first and fastest will be the ones who grasp the opportunities from the ecological transition. I want Europe to be the front-runner. I want Europe to be the exporter of knowledge, technologies and best practice.”
In reaction to von der Leyen’s announcement today, Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe director Wendel Trio said: “Today’s announcement clearly shows that Von der Leyen recognises the need for more climate action.
“Giving greater power to the commissioner responsible for the climate, who will now oversee many other portfolios is a real opportunity to increase climate action in all sectors of the economy. A comprehensive climate policy needs to go beyond energy to transport, industry, agriculture, health and more.”
Trio added that CAN Europe is looking forward to Timmermans leading the commission’s climate work.
“We are expecting him to deliver on his campaign promise to urgently increase the EU’s ambition on climate. His first task is to put forward a proposal to rapidly and significantly increase the EU’s 2030 climate target.”