An orientation briefing following the announcement of Ursula von der Leyen’s proposed College of Commissioners

Written by Sandra Tzvetkova, Vincent Hurkens, Pepe Escrig, Manon Dufour

Download Briefing | Strong climate action footholds in the incoming European Commission

Commission President Von der Leyen has placed the continuation of climate action into dedicated hands and shared political ownership. Mission letters to the Commissioners-designate signal that the European Green Deal and decarbonisation will remain central to Europe’s strategy even as political attention shifts to industrial competitiveness and security amid geopolitical tensions. The Commissioners-designate will still need to spell out their plans for a socially just transition and regulatory continuity at upcoming parliamentary hearings.

This orientation briefing makes sense of the new structure, policy priorities, and portfolios of the EU’s executive. It also highlights further commitments that could strengthen climate action in the next term.

A front row seat for climate amid a complex political balancing act

Von der Leyen formally announced her proposed structure, including individual “mission letters” setting out the roles and responsibilities of each Commissioner, on 17 September. The emerging picture reflects the topics which have dominated the political limelight for the past year: competitiveness and industry, security and sovereignty figure prominently. The structure also echoes key features of Mario Draghi’s report.

Top take-aways

• Decarbonisation is a core facet of the future European economy. The European Green Deal features as a horizontal priority across the mission letters and decarbonisation will be a decisive factor in developing the new flagship initiative of a Clean Industrial Deal. Spanish socialist Teresa Ribera’s proposed position as Executive Vice President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition places climate action at the heart of future EU policymaking. Importantly, merging the clean just transition with competitiveness provides both an opportunity and challenge for Ribera to avoid trade-offs between the two.
• Europe’s cross-cutting challenges will only be overcome through investment. Draghi’s main message was that Europe must invest to secure its prosperity. The mission letters brand this as the “Investment Commission” and contain hooks to increase private and public funding – notably via new own resources, scaling up sustainable finance, transition finance and investment in climate resilience. However, a clear plan to ensure that the next Multiannual Financial Framework will be sufficiently targeted at climate mitigation and adaptation is missing.
• More European coordination is needed to secure competitiveness and prosperity. EU-level action will be crucial, notably in the areas of energy planning and infrastructure, industrial strategy and investment coordination.
• Shared political ownership puts climate on a solid footing. The three major political families (EPP, S&D, Renew) each occupy key climate-related portfolios in the new Commission. Their co-ownership of Europe’s climate agenda and the forthcoming Clean Industrial Deal puts the green transition on relatively solid political footing. It remains to be seen how differing political convictions will be squared in the final product.

How well-positioned is the incoming Commission to accelerate the green transition?

Despite the overall promising hooks for climate action in the EU’s emerging new executive, important gaps and questions remain. Will the promised Clean Industrial Deal go the distance for European citizens, paving a socially just transition that goes beyond the current focus on skills and under-resourced tools such as the Social Climate Fund and Just Transition Fund? Will the focus on regulatory simplification across the mission letters come into conflict with the critical guardrails of Europe’s green and fair transition? And how will an international agenda largely focused on economic security present a cohesive vision of mutual benefits and EU climate leadership?

The benchmarks below grade Von der Leyen’s proposals for the new College of Commissioners on the key elements needed for securing a fast, fair and funded transition in Europe and internationally.

1. A clear and stable trajectory towards climate neutrality and resilience

2. A resilient, fair and green Clean Industrial Deal

3. A just and green EU social model

4. Energy security through cheaper renewable energy sources, connectivity and flexible demand

5. Europe as a credible and reliable leader internationally

6. Funding and investment at the scale that’s required

What’s next?

Hearings. After a round of written questions and answers, Commissioner-designates will appear in hearings by committees in the European Parliament starting on 4 November (to be confirmed). If they fail to secure a majority of coordinators representing two-thirds of the Parliament committees, candidates face additional questions.

EP vote on College of Commissioners. In a plenary session of the European Parliament, the entire team of Commissioners will be put to a vote by simple majority: Nov 25–28 (to be confirmed).

New Commission takes office. 1 December (to be confirmed). The new Commission is expected to produce a number of climate-relevant propositions during their first 100 days: a Clean Industrial Deal including a legislative proposal for a 2040 climate target and revision of the European Climate Law; a vision for agriculture and food, and a vision for global climate and energy diplomacy ahead of COP30.