As of today, the new EU commissioners, under President Ursula von der Leyen, take office, at a time when the Union is faced with a new geopolitical reality.

The 26 new commissioners – among them Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Transport and Tourism – have been in their offices at the headquarters of the European Commission, in the Berlemont building, for days now, in order to officially assume and exercise their duties from today .

Von der Leyen, who belongs to the European People’s Party (EPP), was elected to a second term as president of the European Commission in July and unveiled her new team in September.

The start of von der Leyen’s first term as European Commission president in 2019 coincided with the peak of the international climate movement, with the EU following suit by adopting a climate and environmental law known as the Green Deal.

Five years later, the international situation has changed and consequently the priorities of the European Commission, as evidenced by the appointment of the first Commissioner for Defence, former Prime Minister of Lithuania Andrius Kubilius.

Kubilius will be tasked with strengthening the EU’s defense independence and increasing the bloc’s investment in defense projects.

Estonian Kaya Kalas takes over as head of European diplomacy.

At the same time, the EU is preparing for the return to the US presidency of Donald Trump, who has threatened to impose additional tariffs on European exports.