BRUSSELS (CHATNEWSTV) — The European Council on Thursday appointed the new European Commission for the 2024-2029 term, finalizing its composition through a written procedure. The new Commission will take office on December 1, 2024, and serve until October 31, 2029.
Ursula von der Leyen of Germany will remain President of the Commission, continuing her leadership for a second term. Estonia’s Kaja Kallas has been named High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and will also serve as a Vice-President of the Commission.
The appointment follows the European Parliament’s approval of the nominees on Wednesday, as required under Article 17(7) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). This provision mandates that the European Council appoint the Commission by a qualified majority after Parliament’s consent.
“The new Commission is a reflection of Europe’s unity and diversity, prepared to tackle the challenges of our time,” von der Leyen said in a statement following the announcement.
The remaining members of the Commission represent the 27 EU member states and bring a mix of seasoned politicians and newcomers to key portfolios:
Magnus Brunner (Austria)
Hadja Lahbib (Belgium)
Ekaterina Spasova Gecheva-Zaharieva (Bulgaria)
Dubravka Šuica (Croatia)
Constantinos Kadis (Cyprus)
Jozef Síkela (Czechia)
Dan Jørgensen (Denmark)
Henna Maria Virkkunen (Finland)
Stéphane Séjourné (France)
Apostolos Tzitzikostas (Greece)
Olivér Várhelyi (Hungary)
Michael McGrath (Ireland)
Raffaele Fitto (Italy)
Valdis Dombrovskis (Latvia)
Andrius Kubilius (Lithuania)
Christophe Hansen (Luxembourg)
Glenn Micallef (Malta)
Wopke Bastiaan Hoekstra (Netherlands)
Piotr Arkadiusz Serafin (Poland)
Maria Luís Casanova Morgado Dias de Albuquerque (Portugal)
Roxana Mînzatu (Romania)
Maroš Šefčovič (Slovakia)
Marta Kos (Slovenia)
Teresa Ribera Rodríguez (Spain)
Jessika Roswall (Sweden)
In her remarks, Kallas emphasized the importance of global cooperation. “As Europe’s voice in foreign policy, I will work to strengthen our alliances and promote peace and stability worldwide,” she said.
The Commission, which acts as the EU’s executive arm, is responsible for proposing legislation, enforcing EU laws, and managing the bloc’s policies and budget.
Under the TEU, the European Parliament must grant its consent to the Commission as a whole before the European Council formalizes the appointments. This process ensures the Commission’s accountability to both the member states and the Parliament.
