Executive Vice President Timmermans in the convocation of the European Commission from 2014 to 2019 was the first vice president in charge of better regulation, inter-institutional relations, the rule of law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Green Plan.
Following the decision to run in the upcoming elections in the Netherlands, Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans resigned today as a member of the European Commission. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her gratitude to Executive Vice President Timmermans for his many years of successful work for the Commission and for European citizens, accepting his resignation, which took effect immediately.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen decided to assign the role of Executive Vice President in charge of the European Green Plan to Vice President Maroš Šefčovič. Until the appointment of a new member of the Commission of Dutch nationality, she temporarily decided to assign the portfolio of climate policy to Vice President Šefčovič.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “I thank Frans Timmermans for his passionate and tireless work to achieve the European Green Plan. He was a key member of my Board of Commissioners. Thanks to his excellent contribution and strong personal commitment, we have made great progress in making Europe the first climate-neutral continent and in increasing climate ambitions on a global level. Frans Timmermans’ contribution to the work of the Commission and the European project goes beyond the European Green Plan. He contributed to shaping many initiatives of the Commission in a truly collegial style.”
Executive Vice-President Timmermans was the first vice-president in charge of better regulation, inter-institutional relations, the rule of law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the convocation of the European Commission from 2014 to 2019, before taking responsibility for the European Green Plan in the Commission’s current mandate. In this role, he coordinated the European Commission’s ambitious legislative program aimed at making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, as well as representing the European Union in international negotiations on climate change. He coordinated the work of the European Commission on the EU strategy on biodiversity, a future with zero pollution and circular economy.
President von der Leyen informed the President of the European Parliament and the Spanish Presidency of the Council about the procedures following the resignation of Frans Timmermans in order to continue all current activities without interruption. President von der Leyen also sent an official letter to the Dutch Prime Minister, including a request for the appointment of a new candidate for European Commission Commissioner with Dutch citizenship. President von der Leyen wished Vice President Šefčovič much success in his new role, while she expects him to ambitiously promote climate protection and the European Green Plan. After the legislative framework of the European Green Plan has been established to a large extent and unprecedented amounts have been mobilized for decarbonization, the next phase is in order, in which it is necessary to move from regulation to implementation.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “Since he has successfully worked on the most demanding issues, Maroš Šefčovič is one of the most experienced members of my collegium. As executive vice president, he will be in charge of priority promotion of the European Green Plan. After the successful legislative phase, Executive Vice President Šefčovič will focus on the successful introduction of the European Green Plan as a European growth strategy. Our priority will be to strengthen industrial clean innovations, improve networks and infrastructure for the energy transition and access to critical raw materials. To implement the European Green Plan, we need an even more intensive dialogue with industry, key stakeholders such as forest owners, farmers and citizens. Finally, we will continue to develop a stronger international strategy for the European Green Agenda, in line with our economic and geopolitical interests. The Commission will strengthen its multilateral diplomacy under the Green Plan to strengthen Europe’s leading role in the global goals in the field of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency.
Source: Representation of the EC in Croatia