Appointment of Frans Timmermans as Executive Vice-President of the European Commission

Summary:

Reports, analyses and information on the appointment of the Netherlands' Frans Timmermans as Executive Vice-President for a 'European Green Deal', in the European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen.

Further information:

Frans Timmermans is a former Dutch minister and a European Commissioner since 2014. Mr Timmermans was the socialist lead candidate for the presidency of the European Commission ahead of the 2019 European Parliament elections and later widely rumoured as one of the contenders for the presidency of the European Commission. Despite his unsuccessful bid for the presidency, Mr Timmermans was give one of the Executive Vice-Presidencies as part of the agreement on the top jobs for the institutions of the European Union. His portfolio was announced on 10 September by the President of the European Commission, taking up the role of overseeing all Commissioners responsible for Green Deal issues, as well as serving as climate Commissioner.

The relevant committees of the European Parliament held a hearing with Mr Timmermans on 8 October, in order to assess his capabilities to lead the portfolio. Media sources later reported that he had been approved as a suitable candidate.

Commentary and Analysis

Wikipedia: Frans Timmermans https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frans_Timmermans

EPRS: Briefing, September 2019: Hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Frans Timmermans – Vice-President: European Green Deal https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2019)640170

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News

Dutchnews.nl, 03/07/2019: Frans Timmermans fails to get European Commission president role https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2019/07/frans-timmermans-fails-to-get-european-commission-president-role/

Reuters, 08/10/2019: Eight EU countries call on Timmermans to raise 2030 climate goal to 55% https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1WN07J

EurActiv, 09/10/2019: Timmermans gets broad support at Parliament hearing: the main points https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/news/timmermans-talks-the-talk-in-ep-hearing-the-main-points/

EUObserver, 09/10/2019: Timmermans to end EU climate 'contradictions' https://euobserver.com/environment/146213

Portfolio.hu, 09/10/2019: Timmermans describes how he imagines a green Europe https://www.portfolio.hu/en/eu-funds/20191009/timmermans-describes-how-he-imagines-a-green-europe-403335

The Irish Times, 11/10/2019: Member states oppose revised EU emission targets for 2030 https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/member-states-oppose-revised-eu-emission-targets-for-2030-1.4047910

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Official

European Commission: President-elect von der Leyen’s Mission Letter to Frans Timmermans https://ec.europa.eu/commission/files/frans-timmermans-mission-letter_en

European Parliament: Frans Timmermans’s replies to the European Parliament questionnaire https://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/media/20190927RES62422/20190927RES62422.pdf

European Parliament: Hearing of Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President-designate for a European Green Deal https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/hearings2019/commission-hearings-2019/20190910STO60706/frans-timmermans-the-netherlands

European Parliament: Press Release, 08/10/2019: Hearing of Executive Vice President-designate Frans Timmermans https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190926IPR62264/

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