European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has decided to assign the role of Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal to Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, following the resignation of Frans Timmermans who has decided to run in the forthcoming general election campaign in the Netherlands. She has also decided to temporarily assign the portfolio responsibility for Climate Action Policy to Vice-President Šefčovič until the appointment of a new Member of the Commission of Dutch nationality.
“I thank Frans Timmermans for his passionate and tireless work to make the European Green Deal a reality,” said Ms von der Leyen. “He has been a key member of my College of Commissioners. Thanks to his excellent contribution and strong personal engagement, we have made great strides towards meeting the EU’s objectives to become the first climate-neutral continent and towards raising the levels of climate ambition globally. Frans Timmermans’ contribution to the work of the Commission and to the European project goes beyond the European Green Deal. He has contributed to shaping many of the Commission’s initiatives, in a true collegial style.”
President von der Leyen is now wishing Vice-President Šefčovič much success in his new task. The President expects him to drive forward the protection of the climate and the European Green Deal with the ambition this requires. Indeed, now that the legislative framework of the European Green Deal is largely in place and the mobilisation of unprecedented amounts of funding for decarbonisation has been secured, the time has come to take the European Green Deal to the next level and shift the focus from rules to roll-out.
“Having successfully dealt with the most challenging files in the past, Maroš Šefčovič is one of the most senior and experienced members of my college,” continued Ms von der Leyen.
“As Executive Vice-President, he will be in charge of bringing the European Green Deal forward with the same priority. Following a successful legislation phase, the focus of Executive Vice-President Šefčovič will be the successful roll-out of the European Green Deal as Europe’s growth strategy. Our priority will be to strengthen Industrial Clean Innovation, upgrading our grids and infrastructure for the energy transition and access to Critical Raw Materials. The implementation of the European Green Deal requires an even more intensive dialogue with industry and key stakeholders like forest owners, farmers, as well as citizens. And finally, we will continue to develop a stronger international strategy for the European Green Deal, in line with our economic and geopolitical interests. The Commission will enhance its multilateral Green Deal diplomacy in order to consolidate Europe’s leadership role on global renewables and energy efficiency targets.”