The Romanian Social Democratic MEP Roxana Mînzatu, from Romania’s Social Democrat Party, has been appointed by President Ursula von der Leyen as Executive Vice-President of the European Commission in its new structure.
She will handle one of the European Commission’s most important portfolios: People, Skills and Preparedness, which manages a fifth of the European Union’s budget – a sum of EUR 235 billion.
She will oversee the education sector and social policies, as well as the funding programs related to these areas, including the European Social Fund Plus, the Social Climate Fund, and Erasmus+.
This is Romania’s first appointment in the position. Roxana Mînzatu, 44, was Romania’s second choice – the original proposal was for MEP Victor Negrescu, but Ursula von der Leyen specifically asked for female representation.
The Commission has appointed six Executive Vice-Presidents, four women and two men, namely:
- Teresa Ribera (Spain): Executive Vice-President of a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition;
- Henna Virkkunen (Finland): Executive Vice-President for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy;
- Stéphane Séjourné (France): Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy;
- Roxana Mînzatu (Romania): Executive Vice-President for People, Skills and Preparedness;
- Raffaele Fitto (Italy): Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms;
- Kaja Kallas (Estonia): High Representative and Vice-President.
The team is currently composed of 16 men and 11 women.
The 26 proposed commissioners will now pass through parliamentary hearings, followed by a vote of confidence. The European Parliament will assess their competence, European commitment, independence, and knowledge of their portfolios. Their declarations of interest will be examined by the Legal Affairs Committee. Thus, nothing is guaranteed yet.
Mînzatu was a Social Democrat deputy in Romania for eight years. She is specialized in European funding, as a Secretary of State.
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