EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESS RELEASE Brussels, 1 July 2014 President Barroso announces caretaker replacements following the resignation of 4 Commissioners Following the recent European elections, 4 Commissioners have resigned in order to take up theirs seats in the European Parliament as from today 1 July 2014: - Vice President Reding, responsible for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship - Vice President Tajani, responsible for industry and entrepreneurship - Vice President Rehn, responsible for economic and monetary affairs and the Euro - Commissioner Lewandowski, responsible for financial programming and the budget President Barroso has decided to reallocate the portfolios as follows, pending decisions on their replacements (on the basis of article 246 TFEU): - Vice President Kallas will take responsibility for the portfolio of Vice President Rehn, responsible for economic and monetary affairs and the Euro - Commissioner Hahn will take responsibility for the portfolio of Vice President Reding, responsible for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship 1 - Commissioner Barnier will take responsibility for the portfolio of Vice President Tajani, responsible for industry and entrepreneurship - Commissioner Piebalgs will take responsibility for the portfolio of Commissioner Lewandowski, responsible for financial programming and the budget Background 4 out of the 7 Commissioners who successfully ran for the European elections (see IP/14/360) have resigned from the European Commission to take up their seats in the European Parliament as from today 1 July 2014. The procedural rules that have to be followed in case of a replacement of a Commissioner after he/she resigns are laid down in article 246 of the TFEU: - the President of the Commission informs the Council and the European Parliament of the resignations; - the Member-State concerned (i.e. nationality of the Commissioner that resigned) then decides on a proposal for a candidate for replacement in a letter addressed to the Council and to the President of the Commission. - the Council formally consults the European Parliament on the candidate; 1 The responsibility for DG Communication and OPOCE has been attributed to Vice President Šefčovič. IP/14/762 - the President of the Commission informs the European Parliament of the portfolio he intends to attribute to the candidate; - the European Parliament gives its opinion on the candidate 2; - the Council proceeds, by common accord with the President of the Commission, to the appointment of the candidate; - the Commissioner takes office immediately, upon appointment. The four Member States concerned have now all nominated candidates for the replacement, namely Finland – Mr Jyrki Katainen; Poland – Mr Jacek Dominik; Italy – Mr Ferdinando Nelli Feroci and Luxembourg – Ms Martine Reicherts. President Barroso has announced that he will allocate the economic and monetary affairs and the euro portfolio to Jyrki Katainen, on whom the Council has formally already consulted the European Parliament. The further portfolio allocation decisions will be considered by the President, as soon as the Council has formally consulted the European Parliament on the other nominations. President Barroso also decided to appoint Michel Barnier and Günther Oettinger as Vice- Presidents for the remainder of the mandate. Contacts : Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen (+32 2 295 30 70) Natasja Bohez Rubiano (+32 2 296 64 70) For the public: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 or by e-mail 2 In line with the Framework Agreement governing relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission as well as the European Parliament's Rules of Procedure. 2.