European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen unveils her new team

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President-elect of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, presented her new team and the new structure of the next EC on Tuesday, with Croatia’s MEP Dubravka Suica set to become EC’s Vice-President for Democracy and Demography, first such position for a Croatian MEP since the country joined EU in 2013.

Later in September Parliamentary committees will hold hearings for all the nominees, before they face a confirmation vote in the European Parliament, a press release from the EC said.

Suica, a longtime member of the ruling centre-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), has served as HDZ MP from 2000 to 2011, and was first elected into the European parliament in 2013. Earlier this year, she was appointed vice-president of the European People’s Party (EPP).

Dubravka Šuica will also lead, from the Commission side, the work on the Conference on the Future of Europe.

The Commission is structured around the objectives President-elect von der Leyen was elected on by the European Parliament, the press release said.

“This team will shape the European Way: we will take bold action against climate change, build our partnership with the United States, define our relations with a more self-assertive China and be a reliable neighbour, for example to Africa”, von der Leyen said on Tuesday.

“This team will now have to gain the Parliament's confidence. My Commission will be a geopolitical Commission committed to sustainable policies. And I want the European Union to be the guardian of multilateralism.”

Suica was nominated as one among eight Vice-Presidents, who will be responsible for the top priorities set in von der Leyen’s Political Guidelines, the EC said. Those include the European Green Deal, Europe fit for the digital age, economy, European democracy and way of life, as well as strengthening Europe’s position in the world.

Europska komisija

Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans (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.

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager (Denmark) will coordinate the agenda on a Europe fit for the digital age and be the Commissioner for Competition, supported by the Directorate-General for Competition.

Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis (Latvia) will coordinate the work on an Economy that Works for People and be the Commissioner for financial services, supported by the Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union.

The other Vice-Presidents are:

Josep Borrell (Spain, current Spanish Foreign Minister): HR/Vice President-designate, A Stronger Europe in the World;

Věra Jourová (the Czech Republic, Commissioner in the Juncker Commission): Values and Transparency;

Margaritis Schinas (Greece, former Member of the European Parliament, a long-serving official of the European Commission): Protecting our European Way of Life;

Maroš Šefčovič (Slovakia, Vice-President in the Juncker Commission): Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight.