Liberals with high leverage in the new European Commission

Following the presentation of the new college of Commissioners by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Friday, 27 November 2009, ELDR Party President Annemie Neyts warmly welcomed the portfolios assigned to liberals. “Eight of the Commissioners represent European Liberal Democrat values, which will ensure a liberal footprint on the agenda for change set out by Commission President Barroso in the political guidelines for the new Commission for the coming five years."

"Mr Barroso has heard the liberal message, namely that the liberal members of the Commission should obtain portfolios which allow them to play a visibly significant role in the future Commission."

Liberal Commissioners will be in charge of important portfolios such as economic and monetary affairs, trade and home affairs, and two of the liberal Commissioners are also assigned the role of Vice-President.
ELDR President Neyts commented that “This enables liberals to once again be in the driving seat for ensuring both individual and economic freedoms as the backbone of development, and that is promising for the EU”. President Neyts moreover expressed satisfaction over the fact that European Liberal Democrats once again prove themselves as frontrunners in gender balance: “Four out of eight liberal Commissioners are female, and that clearly shows that we liberals not only talk about gender equality, but also practice it in reality”.

European Liberal Democrats congratulate the liberal nominees and trust that they will prove their capacities and skills in the hearings of the European Parliament that has to approve the candidates as proposed by Barroso. Together with the liberal group in the European Parliament, this Commission has the potential of being the driving force for European prosperity and integration.

Liberal Commissioner nominees and portfolios:

Siim Kallas (Vice President): Transport
Neelie Kroes (Vice President): Digital agenda
Máire Geoghegan Quinn: Research, science & innovation
Karel De Gucht: Trade
Cecilia Malmström: Home affairs
Janez Potocnik: Environment
Olli Rehn: Economic and monetary affairs
Androulla Vassiliou: Education & culture, multilingualism and youth

For more information contact Philipp Hansen, ELDR Political Advisor, +32.2.2370140.