President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen presented the composition of his future commission and the division of portfolios to the European Parliament on Tuesday.
For the Finnish commissioner candidate Henna for Virkkus (kok) is up for the technology commissioner’s portfolio. The exact title is Commissioner for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.
Virkkus will also become one of the six vice-presidents of the Commission.
“He is responsible for a huge topic, digitization and digital infrastructure,” von der Leyen stated.
Virkkunen, 52, has worked in politics for a long time. He was elected to the parliament in 2007. Virkkuse has experience in Finland as Minister of Education, Minister of Municipalities and Minister of Transport.
Meppina Virkkunen has worked for ten years. In the European Parliament, he has been a member of the industry and transport committees, among others.
Other interesting commissioner names include Spain Teresa Riberawho will become the Commissioner responsible for the green transition.
Slovakian Maroš Šefčovičista will be EU trade commissioner and Latvia Valdis Dombrovskisista financial commissioner.
Already earlier in the summer, it was confirmed that the former Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallaksesta will be the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy.
To be approved by Parliament
Von der Leyen’s proposal is just a proposal. The European Parliament must approve each commissioner candidate separately in its hearings.
It is typical for 2-3 candidates to change during the hearings.
The new commission was supposed to start its work already at the beginning of November, but the schedule has been delayed. Von der Leyen’s second commission will be able to start its duties at the beginning of December at the earliest.
The schedule may also stretch into next year if the hearings are delayed in the parliament.
Von der Leyen stated in her press conference that when the member states sent her their first proposals for commissioners, only 22 percent of the candidates were women.
“It was completely unacceptable,” von der Leyen said.
His proposal today would have 11 women on the commission. That means a 40 percent share.
“As you can see, there is still work to be done,” he stated.
THE FACTS
The composition of the EU Commission
Chair: Ursula von der Leyen, Germany
Vice-President for Green Transition: Teresa Ribera, Spain
Vice-president responsible for technological sovereignty, security and democracy: Henna Virkkunen, Finland
Vice-President for Wealth and Industrial Strategy: Stéphane Séjourné, France
Vice-President, High Representative for EU Foreign and Security Policy: Kaja Kallas, Estonia
Vice President for People, Skills and Readiness: Roxana Mînzatu, Romania
Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms: Raffaele Fitto, Italy
Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security: Maroš Šefčovič, Slovakia
Commissioner for Economy and Productivity: Valdis Dombrovskis, Latvia
Commissioner for the Mediterranean: Dubravka Šuica, Croatia
Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare: Olivér Várhelyi, Hungary
Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Green Growth: Wopke Hoekstra, Netherlands
Commissioner for Defense and Space: Andrius Kubilius, Lithuania
Commissioner for Enlargement: Marta Kos, Slovenia (missing confirmation from Slovenia)
Commissioner for International Partnerships: Jozef Síkela, Czech Republic
Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans: Costas Kadis, Cyprus
Commissioner for Financial Services: Maria Luís Albuquerque, Portugal
Commissioner responsible for preparedness and crisis management: Hadja Lahbib, Belgium
Commissioner for Home Affairs and Immigration: Magnus Brunner, Austria
Commissioner responsible for environment and circular economy: Jessika Roswall, Sweden
Commissioner for Budget and Anti-Fraud: Piotr Serafin, Poland
Commissioner for Energy and Housing: Dan Jørgensen, Denmark
Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation: Ekaterina Zaharieva, Bulgaria
Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law: Michael McGrath, Ireland
Commissioner responsible for transport and tourism: Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Greece
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food: Christophe Hansen, Luxembourg
Commissioner for Intergenerational Justice, Youth, Culture and Sport: Glenn Micallef, Malta