Today, following his decision to stand as a candidate in the campaign for the upcoming general elections in the Netherlands, Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans submitted his resignation as a member of the European Commission. The President of the European Commission, Ms Ursula von der Leyen, expressed her gratitude to Executive Vice President Mr Timmermans for his many years of successful work for the Commission and European citizens and accepted his resignation with immediate effect.

The President of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, has decided to assign the role of Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal to the Vice-President, Mr. Maros Seftsovic.

It also decided to temporarily assign the portfolio of climate policy action to Vice-President Seftsovic until a new member of the Dutch Citizenship Committee is appointed.

The President of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, said: “I thank Frans Timmermans for his determined and tireless work to implement the European Green Deal. He was an important member of my House of Commissioners. Thanks to his outstanding contribution and strong personal commitment, we have made significant strides towards the EU’s goals of becoming the first climate-neutral continent, as well as raising levels of climate ambition worldwide. Frans Timmermans’ contribution to the Commission’s work and to the European enterprise goes beyond the European Green Deal. He has helped shape many of the Commission’s initiatives in a truly collaborative way.”

Executive Vice-President Timmermans also served in the European Commission from 2014-2019 as First Vice-President in charge of Better Law-Making, Inter-Institutional Relations, Rule of Law and Charter of Fundamental Rights, before taking responsibility for the European Green Deal in current term of the Commission.

In this role, he coordinated the European Commission’s ambitious legislative agenda to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and represented the EU in international climate change negotiations.

He also coordinated the European Commission’s work on the EU’s biodiversity strategy, a zero-pollution future and the circular economy.

President von der Leyen informed the President of the European Parliament and the Spanish Presidency of the Council about the arrangements made following the resignation of Frans Timmermans, in order to facilitate the smooth continuation of all ongoing procedures. President von der Leyen also sent an official letter to the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, which included a request for a new commissioner candidate of Dutch nationality.

President Mrs. von der Leyen wishes Vice-President Mr. Sefcovic every success in his new duties. The president expects Vice-President Sefcovic to promote climate protection and the European Green Deal with the required ambition.

Now that the European Green Deal legislative framework is largely in place and unprecedented funding for decarbonisation has been secured, the time has come to take the European Green Deal to the next level and shift the focus from rules to implementation.

The President of the European Commission, Ms Ursula von der Leyen, said: “Maros Šefčović, having successfully dealt with the most challenging files in the past, is one of the most senior and experienced members of the House.

As executive vice-president he will be responsible for promoting the European Green Deal with the same priority. After the successful legislative phase, Executive Vice-President Mr. Sefcovic will focus on the successful implementation of the European Green Deal as Europe’s development strategy.

Our priority will be to strengthen industrial clean innovation, upgrade our networks and infrastructure for the energy transition and access to critical raw materials. Implementation of the European Green Deal requires even more intensive dialogue with industry, key stakeholders such as forest owners and farmers, as well as with citizens. Finally, we will continue to develop a stronger international strategy for the European Green Deal, in line with our economic and geopolitical interests. The Commission will strengthen its multilateral diplomacy under the Green Deal to consolidate Europe’s leadership in the global targets on renewable energy and energy efficiency.”

Lena Flitzani