Spain’s deputy prime minister secures EU’s top climate and clean energy job – A greener life, a greener world

By Anders Lorenzen

Teresa Ribera, a senior member of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party, has been selected as one of the key Commissioners in the new group of EU Commissioners proposed by the President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen. Ribera has a strong record of enacting climate action policies having served in the Spanish government in various climate, energy and environmental ministerial positions. She joined the government in 2008 where she served as Director of the Spanish Office of Climate Change.  

Teresa Ribera is one of six Commissioners with special executive status, taking on the role of Executive Vice-President of a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition. She will also be responsible for the Competition policy and will be tasked with ensuring that Europe stays on track for its climate and energy transition goals. These were set out in the European Green Deal, which aims to decarbonise and industrialise our economy simultaneously. 

Another key executive appointee is Stéphane Séjourné who will be the Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy and will also handle the Industry, SMEs and the Single Market portfolio.  He will be tasked with putting in place the conditions for companies to thrive – from investment and innovation to economic stability, trade and economic security.   Stephane Séjourné, a centrist and member of Renaissance (RE), previously En Marche. He is a close ally of French President Emmanuel Macron, and the appointment is seen as boost to Macron at a time where he is experiencing political difficulties.

A balancing act

To balance the appointment of Ribera, Wopke Hoekstra will be the Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth.  He will be tasked with the implementation and adaptation of climate diplomacy and decarbonisation. Additionally, he will be responsible for taxation.  Hoekstra represents the centre-right political spectrum and has been under scrutiny as between 2005-6 he worked for the fossil fuel giant, Royal Dutch Shell.

In a newly established role, former Danish Climate, Energy and Utilities Minister, Dan Jørgensen, is appointed Commissioner for Energy and Housing.  He will be tasked with bringing down energy prices, investing in clean energy, ensuring that we cut our (fossil fuel) dependencies and looking at all aspects of energy efficiency including investment and construction. The Social Democrat has a long experience in EU politics having served in the European Parliament (EP) between 2004 and 2013.

Commenting on the selection of these Commissioners, Von der Leyen said: “We want to build a competitive decarbonised and circular economy with a fair transition for all.”

The proposed Commissioners are to be questioned individually in the EP at hearings scheduled for October, but this process is regarded as a formality and they should assume their new roles by the 1st of December.