New European Commission Takes Office

The new European Commission under the leadership of Jean-Claude Juncker officially began its term for office on Saturday and will run until October 31, 2019.



"As of today, my team and I will work hard to deliver Europe the new start we have promised," European Commission President Juncker said in a press release on Saturday. "Together with a strong and experienced team I look forward to deliver for Europe during the next five years."



The European Commission is the 28-nation bloc's executive body, responsible for proposing legislation and implementing decisions. Juncker succeeded Jose Manuel Barroso, former Prime Minister of Portugal, who served as the President of the Commission between Nov. 22, 2004 and Oct. 31, 2014.



On October 22, a total of 423 MEPs voted in favor of the commission with 209 voting against and 67 abstaining at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. On the same day, Juncker said the biggest task facing the Commission was unemployment and that he would bring forward a €300 billion ($383 billion) investment program for the EU, without giving any details.



Juncker, former Prime Minister of Luxembourg and a member of the center-right Christian Social People's Party, said ahead of the vote on October 22 that gender equality in the Commission remained a problem. He said it was "pathetic" that he had not been able to appoint more than nine women to the commission.



Former Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini will succeed Catherine Ashton as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission.



Mogherini's duties will include steering, coordinating and guiding commissioners in their work for European neighborhood policy, enlargement negotiations, trade, international negotiations and development.



www.aa.com/en - Brüksel