If confirmed in their hearings with the European Parliament, we will work to advance towards a more progressive Europe together with this new Commission in the next 5 years.
The PES will work to deliver the European Green New Deal, ensure fair conditions for all European workers including a minimum wage for all Europeans, create new opportunities for young people and promote equality, and strengthen the EU’s role on the world stage.
PES president Sergei Stanishev said:
“We have now a strong progressive presence in the next European Commission. We will seek close cooperation with PES commissioners, as we look forward to advancing our common agenda to build a fair, free and sustainable Europe.”
The PES welcomes the achieved gender balance in the new commission and is looking forward to an advance in fighting inequalities.
The ten progressive commissioners have been given the portfolios and the tools to achieve positive change:
Frans Timmermans (The Netherlands), until now the First Vice-President of the EC and the PES common candidate at the European Election, is designated for the position of Executive Vice-President for European Green Deal;
Josep Borrell (Spain), acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and a former President of the European Parliament will be the new High Representative for A Stronger Europe in the World;
Maros Sefcovic (Slovakia), previously Vice–President of the EU Commission and EU Commissioner for Energy Union will now become the new Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight;
Jutta Urpilainen (Finland), a former Finance Minister – the chair of PES ECOFIN meetings for years is about to become the new International Partnerships Commissioner;
Paolo Gentiloni, a Former PM of Italy, will be Commissioner for Economy, responsible among others for the European Semester, the Economic and Monetary Union, and the creation of the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan.
Nicolas Schmit, a Former minister of Employment and Social Affairs, from Luxembourg, a tireless campaigner for social rights will now be Commissioner for Jobs;
Helena Dalli (Malta), a regular at all PES gender and general affairs meetings is designated as Commissioner for Equality;
Elisa Ferreira (Portugal), a main contributor to the banking union as an MEP is now about to be the new Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms;
Rovana Plumb (Romania), an active advocate of cohesion policy as an MEP, will work as a Commissioner for Transport;
Ylva Johansson a Former Swedish Minister of Schools and Minister of Employment, a strong fighter for workers’ rights will be the new Commissioner for Home Affairs;
All of them have the potential to form a great, solid progressive team and to bring about progressive change together with the President and all other members of the Commission.