News Release

José Manuel Barroso

No. 125/04
August 12, 2004

EU PRESIDENT-DESIGNATE BARROSO UNVEILS HIS TEAM

In Brussels today, EU Commission President-designate José Manuel Barroso announced the policy portfolios he has allocated to each member of his incoming team. The nominees will appear in individual hearings before the European Parliament in the two weeks beginning September 27. Subject to the approval by vote of the European Parliament (October 25-28), the team will take office on November 1 for five years. The European Parliament will vote on the whole body and not on individual Commissioners.

Introducing the new line-up, incoming President Barroso emphasized the importance of teamwork in his Commission. The new Commission brings together people from across the political spectrum, contains more women than ever before and all Commissioners have strictly equal powers:

“I have great pleasure in announcing my team and announcing it early. I have this morning personally informed all Commissioners of the policy areas they will be responsible for. I have also contacted the 24 Heads of State and Government as well as the president in office of the Council, Mr. Balkenende, and Mr. Borell, President of the Parliament, to tell them of my decision.

"In my Commission, team work will count as much as who does what—we will focus on delivering results. I want to put the Commission in the driving seat of a Europe that benefits our citizens. People need to understand what the EU does and why. Our day-to-day work will have a significant impact on the debate across Europe.

"My task was made easier by the high quality of Commissioners. The team has wide experience in European affairs. It has wide experience on different policy issues. This team is balanced: members come from across the political spectrum. There have never before been as many women in the Commission.

"Commissioners from new countries have equally important portfolios as Commissioners from the 'old' 15 member states. All Commissioners will have equal powers in their role as members of the College. There will be no first- and second-class Commissioners.”

The Members and Portfolios of the New Barroso Commission

President Jose Manuel Barroso—responsible for organization and political guidance of the Commission, Chair of Group of External Commissioners, Chair of the Group of Commissioners for the Lisbon Strategy for a more competitive Europe
(Portugal)

Vice-Presidents Margot Wallström—Institutional Relations & Communication
(Sweden)

Günter Verheugen—Enterprise & Industry
(Germany)

Jacques Barrot—Transport
(France)

Siim Kallas—Administrative Affairs, Audit, Anti-Fraud
(Estonia)

Rocco Buttiglione—Justice, Freedom & Security
(Italy)

Commissioners Viviane Reding—Information Society & Media
(Luxembourg)

Stavros Dimas—Environment
(Greece)

Joaquín Almunia—Economic & Monetary Affairs
(Spain)

Danuta Hübner—Regional Policy
(Poland)

Joe Borg—Fisheries & Maritime Affairs
(Malta)

Dalia Grybauskaitė—Financial Programming & Budget
(Lithuania)

Janez Potočnik—Science & Research
(Slovenia)

Ján Figel—Education, Training, Culture & Multilingualism
(Slovakia)

Markos Kyprianou—Health and Consumer Protection
(Cyprus)

Olli Rehn—Enlargement**
(Finland)

Louis Michel—Development & Humanitarian Aid**
(Belgium)

Lázló Kovács—Energy
(Hungary)

Neelie Kroes-Smit—Competition
(Netherlands)

Mariann Fischer Boel—Agriculture & Rural Development
(Denmark)

Benita Ferrero-Waldner—External Relations & Neighbourhood

Policy** (Austria)

Charlie McCreevy—Internal Market and Services
(Ireland)

Vladimir Špidla—Employment, Social Affairs
(Czech)

Peter Mandelson—Trade**
(United Kingdom)

Ingrida Udre—Taxation & Customs Union
(Latvia)

** External Relations Commissioners

A high-quality and political team

Mr. Barroso’s decision to regroup all Commissioners’ offices in the Berlaymont building underlines his commitment to working as a team.

The new Commission consists of people with in-depth experience in various policy areas. Its members have acquired a profound knowledge on EU policies and institutions. They are former Prime Ministers and Ministers and current Commissioners. Some were in charge of negotiating their country’s accession to the European Union. Some were members of the Constitutional Convention.

It is a very balanced team. It has the highest proportion of women ever in the European Commission and draws on experience from across the political spectrum.

The role of each Commissioner is not limited to managing portfolio business. The Commission acts as a College and decides collectively on all issues. Each Commissioner will be strictly equal in the process of collective decision-making. There will be no delegation of powers to Commissioners’ groups. Mr. Barroso said: “I do not want first- and second-class Commissioners. All Commissioners are equally important. I want my authority to be based on solid team work.”

To enhance collegiality further, the Commission will hold more informal brainstorming sessions and will improve cooperation between departments and Commissioners’ private offices. To react quickly to events and set the agenda, the Commission needs a flexible organization. Where appropriate, Commission work will be prepared in advance by thematic groups and task forces. These will draw together Commissioners whose portfolios relate to a particular policy challenge. 

Changes to achieve political priorities

The new Commission has been designed to achieve clear results for the European Union’s people and to give Europe a stronger voice in the world. Its organization builds upon many elements of the current Commission. Mr. Barroso felt no need for a revolutionary shake-up of the Commission’s departments. Where he has made changes to departments and portfolios, his aim is mainly to improve the capacity to deliver policies and to achieve political priorities.

Mr. Barroso stated: “I attach particular importance to communicating Europe. The apathy shown in the last European elections is worrying. I have asked a Vice-President to work specifically on a communication strategy. What Europe does and why it does it must be communicated to people more clearly.” The same Vice-President will also be in charge of institutional relations. She will look beyond EU institutions to national Parliaments and citizens.

The Lisbon strategy to make Europe the world’s most competitive economy by 2010 is suffering an implementation deficit. The Commission and Member States must deliver better results. Mr. Barroso will personally coordinate all efforts to revitalize the Lisbon strategy. He has appointed a Vice-President to represent a coherent Commission view in the Competitiveness Council.

Mr. Barroso decided to reinforce equal opportunities by clearly attributing this task to the Commissioner in charge of employment and social affairs, who will chair the group of Commissioners for equal opportunities.

On foreign policy, Mr. Barroso emphasized the need for efficient coordination. He will chair the group of Commissioners on external relations. An important priority is given to EU neighborhood policy by allocating that responsibility to the Commissioner in charge of external relations. One aim of the group of Commissioners is to prepare for the arrival of the new Foreign Affairs Minister in the Commission and to implement the European Diplomatic Service. Upon joining the Commission, the Foreign Affairs Minister is set to become Vice-President in charge of external relations.  

Press Contacts:

Anthony Gooch 202-862-9523

Maeve O'Beirne 202-862-9549

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