In Brussels, a new Commission to “decarbonize” and “industrialize” Europe

It also includes industry, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the single market.He will guide the work to put in place the conditions for our businesses to thrive, from investment and innovation to economic stability, trade and economic security.“, said the President of the Commission, who is re-elected for five years.

The other “heavyweight” of the college is none other than the Spaniard Teresa Ribera, who, in addition to being responsible for competition policy, is to become Executive Vice-President responsible for a Clean, Fair and Competitive Transition. She will be responsible for ensuring the proper implementation of the “Green Deal” – the package of emblematic texts of the previous mandate that aims to make Europe the first carbon-neutral continent and which has a direct influence on many industrial sectors in Europe (automobiles, chemicals, batteries, etc.). For Ursula von der Leyen, the priority is twofold: it is necessary to both “decarbonise” and “industrialise” the economy.

Some Commissioners (lower in the Commission’s hierarchy) also have a portfolio that touches on industry. This is notably the case of the Slovak Maros Sefcovic, who is responsible for Trade and Economic Security, the Latvian Valdis Dombrovskis, proposed to become Commissioner responsible for Economy and Production, the Swede Jessika Roswall, who should inherit the portfolio of Environment and “competitive circular economy” or the Dane Dan Jorgensen, for Energy and Housing. The work of the latter “will help lower energy prices, invest in clean energy and ensure we reduce our dependencies“, explains Ursula von der Leyen. The Dutchman Wopke Hoekstra would keep the portfolio of Climate, carbon neutrality and clean growth.

A return to “business as usual”?

Germany has also chosen to create a post of “Commissioner responsible for Defence and Space”. It is the responsibility of Lithuanian Andrius Kubilius. The strengthening of “industrial capacity” in defence matters is also his responsibility. “TheSecurity and competitiveness are key themes for the next mandate“, notes Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s Party (EPP) group, the majority in the European Parliament, who calls for moving “quickly” to the stage of hearings of the “designated commissioners”: the latter must in fact be grilled by the European Parliament, which has the power to give its green light, or not, to the new Commission. The final timetable for the hearings has not yet been adopted.

«The fact that there is no longer, on the one hand, the “Green Deal”, and on the other, the portfolio of industry and competitiveness is very important, it was the limit during the previous mandate“, notes MEP Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe), who is pleased to see that the success of the objectives of the “Green Deal” now involves different levers ranging from budgetary policy to trade, including competition. Despite the many grievances he has against Ursula von der Leyen, Raphaël Glucksmann (Socialists and Democrats) indicates “to be happy about one thing: the “Green Deal” is not being scuttled and, unlike other members of the European People’s Party (EPP), for Ursula von der Leyen this seems to be an issue on which she will resist” David Cormand (Les Verts), for his part, is less optimistic, and views with suspicion the emphasis placed on “competitiveness” or “simplification”. He denounces a “return to “business as usual” which turns its back on the ecological transition project“Will Ursula von der Leyen succeed in reconciling green transition and industrial renewal?