Paolo Gentiloni is the new European Commissioner for Economic Affairs. This was announced by the new president Ursula Von der Leyen, presenting the team that will support her in the coming years.
Italy, after months of negotiations, was therefore able to obtain the much sought-after “weight chair”. An unthinkable conquest until a few months ago, when due to the friction between Brussels and the Lega-M5S government and the growing distrust of our accounts and our politics, our country seemed destined to stay out of the "nomination game".
The former Premier and former Foreign Minister will take the place hitherto occupied by the Frenchman Pierre Moscovici and will deal with the management of the financial and monetary affairs of the European Union, playing a fundamental role in the eventual) revision of the Stability Pact (desired from Italy) which governs European accounts. As expected, Italy has resigned from the vice-presidency of the Commission, which instead seemed to have been acquired in an initial phase of negotiations.
The controversy over Gentiloni's appointment began even before the announcement, with the former Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz, leader of the Austrian People's Party (EPP), who claimed on Twitter that Austria has no intention of paying Italy's debts.
On the other hand, the European Commissioner for the Budget is in favour, Guenther Oettinger, a member of the German CDU and of the EPP, according to whom "A former prime minister who comes from a large member country", like Paolo Gentiloni, "always has the competence to take on an important portfolio".
"My designated successor Paolo Gentiloni is a friend and an excellent choice, he will be able to bring the values and ideas of the social democratic family," he wrote on Twitter Pierre Muscovici.
It should be noted that with the French Christine Lagarde at the helm of the ECB, the Portuguese Mario Centeno at the head of the Eurogroup and Gentiloni at the EcFin the policies of the Eurozone will now all be in the hands of representatives of the countries of the South. Without forgetting David Sassoli as president of the European Parliament.
Returning to the stewards, Von der Leyen also introduced the other members of his team, made up in total of 14 men and 13 women. It is the first time in the history of the EU that gender equality is fully respected. From a political point of view, 10 commissioners went to the European socialists, 9 to the European People's Party and six to the liberals of Renew Europe, one to the ecologists with the Lithuanian Virginijus Sinkevičius and one to the conservatives with the Polish Janusz Wojciechowski.
“Today I am presenting a well-balanced team that brings together expertise and experience, I want a commission that works with determination and offers answers,” said the president-elect of the European commission. “I want a commission that is flexible, modern and agile", he added.
Frans Timmermans (Dutch) will be the executive vice president for the “European green deal”, Margrethe Vestager (Danish) will be Executive Vice-President for Digital and Commissioner for Competition, Valdis Dombrovskis (Latvian), current Vice-President of the European Commission for the Euro, has been appointed Executive Vice-President for the Economy.
As for the other important appointments, the French sylvie goulard she is the new Commissioner for the Internal Market and will be in charge of a new DG that will deal with industry, space and defence. Lithuanian Virginius Sinkevicius (Greens) was appointed Commissioner for the Environment and Oceans, the Austrian Johannes Hahn to the Budget and Administration. Irish Phil Hogan the portfolio to Commerce, while the Belgian Didier Reynders he got that at Justice. Mariya Gabriel (Bulgaria) has been appointed Commissioner for Innovation and Youth. Elizabeth Ferreira (Portugal) has been appointed Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms.
Here are all the names:
The new commission will take office after the green light from the European Parliament.