Four EPP Group MEPs to lead growth & jobs policies in Juncker Commission

Four EPP Group MEPs - Valdis Dombrovskis, Marianne Thyssen, Miguel Arias Cañete and Christos Styalianides - have been chosen by the European Commission President-elect, Jean-Claude Juncker, to lead growth & jobs policies portfolios for the next five years, after their nomination is confirmed by the European Parliament.

Former Latvian Prime Minister and current MEP, Valdis Dombrovskis, appointed as Vice-President of the new European Commission responsible for the Euro and Social Dialogue, said that one of the main priorities of the new Juncker team in the coming five years “will be directly connected to the questions of financial stability and economic growth to ensure sustainable economic growth and new job creation. Our task is to prevent any risk factors that could lead European economic development to the slow growth or even stagnation scenario. The key word is competitiveness which is an important issue for all Member States. We will have to work at EU level and with every Member State in order to enhance its competiveness. We have to strengthen the EU internal market. It is also important to underline the necessity of structural reforms in EU Member States. It is crucial to ensure that all EU citizens can benefit from economic growth, minimising the wage gap not only at EU level, but also in the Member States”, he said.

Belgian MEP, Marianne Thyssen, will deal with Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility. She highlighted after the announcement that "contrary to an often-heard criticism, Europe does not concern itself primarily with numbers, but with people. Europe is about the welfare and well-being of Europeans. As European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, I will have the opportunity to fully contribute to this objective. In the coming years, together with the Member States and regions, I want to create the best possible circumstances for more employment and to reinforce people to the maximum and give them the best chances on the labour market."

Spanish MEP, Miguel Arias Cañete, will lead with both Climate Change and Energy Policy, one of the new portfolios introduced by Juncker in the new European Commission, as protecting the environment and maintaining EU competitiveness go hand in hand. Arias Cañete said that “out of respect for the Parliament” he will not make any statement before his hearing but pointed out that he was honoured to be nominated as Climate Change and Energy Policy Commissioner and that he will now focus all his efforts "on preparing for my new responsibilities and for my hearing in the European Parliament, which I take very seriously.”

Finally, Cypriot MEP, Christos Stylianides, nominated as the Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Commissioner also said that he was "honoured to join the effort under President Juncker to face the enormous challenges that the EU faces on many fronts. Bold political decisions are needed for a new beginning. Humanitarian crises, conflicts and disasters around the world are bigger and more complex than ever. I will work day and night to keep up the EU’s response to these challenges."