Slovak diplomat Maroš Šefčovič is to take on the transport portfolio in the new European Commission. He takes over a revamped space and transport portfolio from Siim Kallas.
President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker has revamped the Commission, creating seven vice-presidents on top of the 20 commissioners.
He was previously European Commissioner for Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration. He is a former Slovak ambassador to Israel. From 2004–2009, he was the Slovak Permanent Representative to the European Union.
As Commissioner for Space and Transport, he will have responsibility for ensuring that Europe’s transport infrastructure functions efficiently and promoting the interconnections necessary to facilitate the development of the internal market.
Key tasks include advancing the work on Trans-European Transport Networks, mobilising instruments available under the Connecting Europe Facility and maximising synergies with the implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds at national and regional level; as well as completing the negotiations of the Fourth Railway package and pursuing the Single European Sky policy.
Space is a new part of the portfolio, and Šefčovič will be responsible for establishing a coherent and stable regulatory framework for the service and manufacturing of space applications in Europe and exploiting the internal market and job-creating potential of space.
Juncker said: “Today I am presenting the team that will put Europe back on the path to jobs and growth. In the new European Commission, form follows function. We have to be open to change. We have to show that the Commission can change. What I present to you today is a political, dynamic and effective European Commission, geared to give Europe its new start. I have given portfolios to people – not to countries. I am putting 27 players in the field, each of whom has a specific role to play – this is my winning team.”
