New European Commission starts to take shape: list of Commissioners-designate and their missions

On 17 September 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the list of Commissioners-designate for her new Commission. We expect the new Commission to start in early December, but delays are possible. 

In this blog post, we focus on the Commissioners-designate most relevant to the EU's work on net zero and other aspects of ESG. 

Political Guidelines set the overarching direction of travel 

On 18 July 2024, Ursula von der Leyen, who was elected for a second term as President of the European Commission, presented to the European Parliament her Political Guidelines for the next Commission's mandate (2024-2029). This defines the key priorities for the new Commission in the next five years, with a new plan for Europe’s “sustainable prosperity and competitiveness”.

In particular, on ESG, the Political Guidelines proposed the creation of a new Clean Industrial Deal in the first 100 days of the new Commission which will include an Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act and a new Circular Economy Act, a review of the existing EU Climate Law through a proposal for a 90% emissions reduction target for 2040, a potential review of the 2035 CO2 standards for cars and vans to include technology-neutral options, a review of the REACH chemicals regime, an EU water resilience strategy, and a new gender equality strategy for post-2025, among other things. 

On reducing red tape, the Political Guidelines say the Commission will need “to make business easier and faster” in Europe – with “speed, coherence and simplification” being key political priorities. All Commissioners will be tasked with focusing on reducing administrative burdens and simplifying implementation: “less red tape and reporting”. 

The Political Guidelines say that the Commission President will also draw on the Draghi report on EU competitiveness (see our previous blog post). 

Commissioners-designate

Spain’s Vice Prime Minister Teresa Ribera Rodríguez has been nominated for the Competition portfolio and will also oversee climate and competition policy as Executive Vice-President for a “clean, just and competitive transition”, leveraging her expertise in energy and green policy. Her Mission Letter (as well as the Mission Letters to other Commissioners-designate) stresses that the success of the new Commission will be measured against the ability to meet the targets and objectives set in the European Green Deal, and she, together with other Commissioners, will be responsible for ensuring that “existing rules are fit-for-purpose and focus on reducing administrative burdens and simplifying legislation”. In particular, she, along with other Commissioners, must “contribute to reducing reporting obligations by at least 25% - and for SMEs at least 35%”. Ms Ribera will coordinate the work on the Clean Industrial Deal. She will also guide the work on the implementation of the existing legal framework to help reach the EU’s 2030 targets. Once the 90% emission-reduction target for 2040 has been included in the European Climate Law, Ms Ribera and the Commission will need to prepare a new framework beyond 2030 to enable the EU to reach net-zero by 2050. 

Ms Ribera will also need to ensure that taxation measures support a just transition and decarbonisation, working closely with Wopke Hoekstra, the Commissioner-designate for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth. His Mission Letter indicates that he will take part in delivering the Clean Industrial Deal, will need to ensure investment is targeted towards European net zero infrastructure, industrial decarbonisation, and a more circular economy. He will support the implementation of the Innovation Fund to invest in highly innovative clean technologies. Mr Hoekstra will also be responsible for the build-up of a single market for CO2 and will lead  the work to conclude negotiations on the revision of the Energy Taxation Directive and explore how to further green the VAT system.

Ms Ribera will also work with Jessika Roswall, the Commissioner-designate for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy to ensure that the EU “makes the most of Europe's natural capital and develop a clean, circular economy.” Her Mission Letter provides that she will lead on a Circular Economy Act with measures to create market demand for secondary materials and establish a single market for waste, notably in relation to critical raw materials. Ms Roswall will need to prioritise the design of incentives for nature positive actions and private investment, and will lead the work on nature credits. She will also lead the work on the European Water Resilience Strategy.

Dan Jørgensen is the Commissioner-designate for Energy and Housing. According to his   Mission Letter, he is tasked with bringing down energy prices, producing more clean energy, upgrade our grid infrastructure and developing a resilient, interconnected and secure energy system. He will oversee and support the implementation of the existing legal framework for 2030. Mr Jørgensen will also need to make proposals to incentivise and increase the uptake of carbon capture utilisation and storage.

Valdis Dombrovskis, the Commissioner-designate for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification, will be tasked with reducing administrative and reporting burden, simpler implementation and better enforcement. He will lead the work to stress-test the EU acquis with a view to eliminate overlaps and contradictions.

Stéphane Séjourné has been nominated the Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy. His Mission Letter envisages that he will develop the Clean Industrial Deal in the first 100 days of the new Commission's mandate, with a focus on decarbonisation, clean technologies and incentivising investment. He is tasked with presenting an Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act and will also lead on the implementation of the existing Net Zero Industry Act.

Maria Luís Albuquerque, the Commissioner-designate for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, will be tasked with scaling up sustainable finance, in particular transition finance and climate resilience. She will need to explore ways to promote the development and transparent categorisation of financial products and services with sustainability features. This would probably mean she may lead the work on the review of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR).

In the new Commission, therefore, several Commissioners will be responsible for different aspects of climate and environmental policy, with Ms Ribera playing a leading role in setting the 2040 climate target along with driving the work to improve EU competitiveness. 

Next steps 

In October, the European Parliament will hold hearings for the Commissioners-designate, with a plenary vote expected at the end of October. 

The Parliament can veto the entire College of Commissioners but not individual candidates, though veto threats have forced candidate withdrawals in the past. 

If approved by the Parliament, the new Commission will be officially appointed by the European Council and start on 1 December 2024 for a five-year term. 

If there are delays, the current Commission will work in caretaker mode, handling day-to-day operations without taking major decisions. 

UPDATE ADDED ON 02/10/24:  The European Parliament has confirmed that it will hold the Commissioner hearings between 4 and 12 November - which means the earliest date for the new European Commission to start work is early December, although the start date could be delayed to January if the Parliament rejects any nominees and Member States have to nominate replacements - see EU press release.