30 November 2009

Consumer Rights to move to DG Justice, Liberty and Security in New Commission

The composition of the new Commission was published last week announcing a number of important changes.

The new College will have 27 members, including President Barroso, one from each Member State. It includes 9 women. The members of the College come from different political families, notably the European People's Party (EPP), the  Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S & D), and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE). 14 members, including the President, were already members of the outgoing College.

President Barroso has given a new look to the College of his second mandate. He has announced a number of new portfolios: Climate Action; Home Affairs; Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. He has reconfigured a number of other portfolios: Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth; Health and Consumer Policy; Industry and Entrepreneurship; Research and Innovation; International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response. There will be a new emphasis on inclusion in the Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion portfolio, and a renewed focus with the Digital Agenda portfolio.

The new Commission must gain approval from the European Parliament before it takes office for a term of office running until 31 October 2014. Commissioners designate will appear in individual hearings before Parliamentary committees from 11-19 January. The vote of consent on the new Commission as a whole is foreseen to take place on 26 January. On the basis of the vote of consent, the Commission shall be appointed by the European Council. Then it can start working.

There is expected to be tough bargaining over the major economic portfolios, like trade, monetary affairs and competition.

Once the new Commission is approved, the Consumer Contract and Marketing Law SANCO B.2 moves from DG SANCO to DG Justice, Liberty and Security (JLS) as part of the Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship portfolio which falls under the responsibility of the Luxembourg Commissions Mrs Viviane Reding.

Mrs Viviane Reding

Mrs Reding comes from DG Information Society. She was born 27 April 1951 in Esch-sur-Alzette. Before starting a professional career as a journalist for the leading newspaper in Luxembourg, the Luxemburger Wort, she obtained a doctorate in human sciences at the Sorbonne. From 1986 to 1998, she was President of the Luxembourg Union of Journalists. On November 27, 2009, she was promoted in the "Barroso II Commission" to Vice-President responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, and is affiliated with the European People's Party (EPP). She is married and has three children.