Photo: Dati Bendo / EC - Audiovisual Service
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen nominated Teresa Ribera to be in charge of the European Union’s clean, just and competitive transition. The Spanish official would be among three executive vice presidents responsible for the green agenda, including industrial production, out of six in total. The green transition and the environment are spread across the portfolios of at least six commissioner posts. Dan Jørgensen would run energy and housing.
The lineup of the next so-called College of Commissioners is up for the European Parliament to consider and quiz the nominees before voting. In her next mandate, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants a third of the 27 members of the EU’s executive body to be the most directly responsible for climate action, the energy transition, environmental protection and associated matters.
Members of conservative and right-wing parties dominate the group, though there is more balance in the green segment. Eleven, including Von der Leyen, are women, and she nominated four of them for executive vice-presidential seats among the six in total.
The head of the former and next European Commission highlighted competitiveness in the “twin transition” (green and digital) as the backdrop for the forthcoming five-year mandate. Von der Leyen also placed emphasis on tech sovereignty, security and democracy alongside “building a competitive, decarbonised and circular economy, with a fair transition for all.”
Teresa Ribera signals she would seek compromise on nuclear energy as executive vice-president
Teresa Ribera Rodríguez would be the executive vice-president in charge of a clean, just and competitive transition, and competition policy. “She will guide the work to ensure that Europe stays on track for its goals set out in the European Green Deal. And that we decarbonise and industrialise our economy at the same time,” Von der Leyen said.
The administration in Brussels has been reluctant to promote nuclear energy even though proponents of the technology have won in awarding it a green label in nominal terms. Conversely, a majority of EU member states, led by France, are in favor of a nuclear renaissance.
Advances in the development of small nuclear reactors, SMRs, helped to tip the scales, as did the RePowerEU initiative to phase out the use of Russian fossil fuels. However, there is a long way ahead before any commercial SMR comes online.
It is why there was much controversy over who would get the top energy jobs in Von der Leyen’s new team. EU lawmakers could still reject the candidates depending on their stance on hot issues.
Just after winning the nomination, Teresa Ribera signaled she would work on a compromise. Speaking to the press, she pointed to the right of every member state to decide on its electricity mix. Ribera is currently the third deputy prime minister and minister for the ecological transition and the demographic challenge of Spain, which intends to shut down its nuclear reactors one by one.
Von der Leyen picks Denmark’s Dan Jørgensen to be in charge of energy
After Von der Leyen revealed the list, SolarPower Europe highlighted the people that are most relevant for solar and energy. Among them are nominated executive vice-presidents Henna Virkkunen, for tech sovereignty, security and democracy, and Stéphane Séjourné, for prosperity and industrial strategy, and Maroš Šefčovič, slated to become commissioner for trade and economic security and for interinstitutional relations and transparency.
Denmark’s Minister for Development Co-operation and Global Climate Policy Dan Jørgensen was picked as the future energy and housing commissioner.
Wholesale electricity prices in Southeastern Europe are much higher than in the rest of the continent
“His work will help to bring down energy prices, invest in clean energy and ensure that we cut our dependencies. He will be the first-ever commissioner for housing – looking at all aspects from energy efficiency to investment and construction,” Von der Leyen stated.
Of note, several countries in Southeastern Europe have sounded the alarm over the huge disparity in electricity prices since early summer against lower levels in the rest of the continent.
The head of the European Commission instructed Jørgensen to complete the energy union and support candidate countries to prepare for joining the EU. He would need to help address energy poverty and contribute to conducting a social, just and competitive transition within his portfolio.
Next commissioner must promote SMRs
The tasks for Jørgensen, one of the negotiators at the United Nations COP summits on climate change, include supporting the acceleration of the development and deployment of small modular reactors and ensure technological neutrality, according to Von der Leyen. As minister of climate and energy and utilities from 2019 to 2022, he was against including nuclear energy in the EU’s sustainable taxonomy.
Denmark has no nuclear plants, though there are startups developing the technology, with a focus on SMRs.
SolarPower Europe, WindEurope endorse Jørgensen
Combining energy and housing makes perfect sense as addressing energy poverty and delivering affordable housing go hand in hand, said Chief Executive Officer of SolarPower Europe Walburga Hemetsberger.
Hemetsberger: Flexible, renewable electrification can cut day-ahead power prices by 25% by 2030
“Solar on social housing, for example, is low-hanging fruit to decarbonise our grid and ensure no one is left behind. We’re thrilled to see the reference to an electrification action plan within Commissioner-Designate Jørgensen’s mission letter. Together with the emphasis on renewables, energy storage, and energy system integration – including flexibility – the letter sets a solid foundation to build an electrified, competitive Europe. Flexible, renewable electrification can cut day-ahead power prices by 25% by 2030 and 33% by 2040,” Hemetsberger underscored.
WindEurope’s CEO Giles Dickson praised the selection of Teresa Ribera and Dan Jørgensen.
“Both have championed renewables in their home countries and overseas for many years. Both know what’s needed to deliver the energy transition – on grids, permitting, electrification and supply chains,” he said.
European Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra remains on team as his portfolio would widen
Current European Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra is Von der Leyen’s pick for climate, net zero and clean growth. “He will continue to work on implementation and adaptation, on climate diplomacy and decarbonisation. And he will also be responsible for taxation,” Von der Leyen explained, referring to the development of carbon pricing systems.
Jessika Roswall from Sweden would be the commissioner for environment, water resilience and a competitive circular economy. She needs to “put nature on the balance sheet,” the European Commission chief stressed.
Greek Regional Governor of Central Macedonia Apostolos Tzitzikostas is the commissioner-designate for sustainable transport and tourism. Cypriot Costas Kadis would be responsible for fisheries and oceans. The university professor of biodiversity conservation should present the first European oceans pact if he passes the vote in the European Parliament.
One other future commissioner will be important for the Western Balkans, a part of the region covered by Balkan Green Energy News that aspires to join the EU. Von der Leyen wants Marta Kos from Slovenia, a former ambassador and journalist, to become the enlargement commissioner, also responsible for the Eastern Neighborhood: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
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