The twenty-seven faces

Twenty-seven representatives of the EU Member States are the designated Commissioners of the new Barroso team whose mandate, prior to EP and Council endorsement, is due to expire in 2014. Who are they?Outgoing, incoming, ex premiers and MEPs. Commissioners-designate will appear in individual hearings before Parliamentary committees from 11-19 January. The vote of consent on the new Commission as a whole is foreseen to take place on 26 January. If all proceeds smoothly, ensuing the Council’s endorsement, the College is likely to take office in February 2010. Portuguese President José Manuel Barroso – born 1956, centre-right politician affiliated to the European People’s Party, former premier in Lisbon, at his second mandate of the Executive -, reconfigured a number of portfolios, introducing much appreciated innovations, such as the Commissioner for Climate Action. Commentators also underlined the figures of the new college. Indeed, the team includes 9 women, thus representing a third of the total. There are 7 Vice-Presidents. While 14 – including Barroso – were reconfirmed from the outgoing Commission (due to remain in office until the passing of the baton), 16 new Commissioners previously held post as national premiers or ministers.Two women in key-posts. In addition to Barroso, media coverage was mostly directed to Catherine Ashton, British, from the Labour party, appointed High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, also entitled to the Executive’s vice-Presidency. The responsibilities deriving from her post, occupied for ten years by Javier Solana from Spain, are partly “new”, since the post was established with the Lisbon Treaty. Catherine Ashton, born in 1956, completed her university studies in sociology. She was president of the House of Lords and European Commissioner for Trade for the past year-and-a-half. Vivian Reding, born in 1951, from the People’s Party group, has had much experience in Brussels. She held office as the Commission’s Vice-President and as Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship commissioner, one of the new “ministries” Barroso set up. She is at her third mandate as Commissioner. Her past assignments include Education and Information Society. Familiar and less known personalities. Another “relevant” figure of College-designate is Vice-President Joaquin Almunia, 61, responsible for Competition, having already chaired Economic and Monetary Affairs. He was one of the leaders of the Socialist party in his home Country and two times minister. Frenchman Michel Barnier, 58, was entrusted the important portfolio regarding Internal Market and Services. He was previously Commissioner for Regional Policies, several times Minister in Paris and elected member of the European Parliament. He is a member of the EPP. Economist Günther Oettinger representing Germany is responsible for Energy. Born in 1953, the former president of the Baden-Württemberg region is a high-ranking member of the CDU, affiliated to the EEP. Telecommunications changes name. Confirmed personalities include Vice-President Neelie Kroes, in charge of the “digital agenda”, a new wording that encompasses the telecommunications sector. The Dutch representative is a “veteran”, since she’s the outgoing Commissioner for Competition. Born in 1941, Ms. Kroes is a former Minister in The Netherlands and is a member of the Liberal-democrats political group (ALDE). Algirdas Semeta from the EEP group, mathematician and economist from Lithuania, was appointed Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud. He arrived a few months ago in Berlaymont, the seat of the Executive, in charge of the EU budject. He was two times minister in his country.Decisive tasks for Finland and Sweden. Outstanding assignments were given to the representatives of Nordic countries. Olli Rehn, 62, from Finland, is responsible for Economic and Monetary Affairs, previously in charge of Enlargement policies. He served as MEP in the liberal-democrat group. Sweden, in the person of Cecilia Malmström, will be in charge of Home Affairs. Born in 1968, liberal, former MEP (1999-2006). She performed her skills in the six-term presidency as Minister for EU policies. Her portfolio covers delicate and topical issues. In fact, the Stockholm Program on Justice and Citizenship is under way.(1 – continued)