New-look Juncker Commission unveiled

Karmenu Vella, the longstanding Maltese MP and Minister, has been announced as Commissioner Designate for Environment, Fisheries, and Maritime Affairs as President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker unveiled the shape of the next European Commission. Commissioner-designate Vella will now take part in a hearing in
front of the European Parliament on 29/9/2014 from 14.30-17.30, after which MEPs will be asked to give their consent to the entire College of Commissioners.

 The new structure of the Commission reflects the challenges which Europe is faced with renewed emphasis being placed on tackling unemployment, enabling and encouraging investment, creating a truly digital Europe, presenting a credible foreign policy, and ensuring the EU is energy secure. To that end, President-elect Juncker announced that seven Vice-Presidents would be tasked with leading project teams based on the EU's top priorities.

 A number of portfolios have been also been reshaped. Under Commissioner-Designate Vella, the Environment and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries portfolios have been combined. This is helpful in terms of underlining the importance of Green and Blue Growth to securing a sustainable future for Europe and the existing potential in these areas to contribute to the goals of job creation, growth stimulation and the preservation of resources.

In his mission letter to Commissioner-designate Vella, the President-elect highlighted the importance of implementing the Common Fisheries Policy, the opportunities presented by Blue Growth, and the EU's key role in shaping international ocean governance. There is no functional change for the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries as such.