Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic


EU COMMISSION´S PRIORITIES

On December 1st 2019, the new Commission led by President Ursula von der Leyen took office. For its 5-year mandate it has set the following 6 political priorities that will further extend to concrete legislative or non-legislative activities:

  1. A European Green Deal
  2. An economy that woks for people
  3. A Europe fit for the digital age
  4. Protecting our European way of life
  5. A stronger Europe in the world
  6. A new push for European democracy

The new structure of the European Commission confirms that climate and digital transformation will be its top priorities. Ursula von der Leyen considers both to be the „enabling“ priorities of the EU. This means that these objectives will have to be taken into account in all proposed EU policies. Both portfolios are managed by Executive Vice-Presidents - climate policy is led by Mr Frans Timmermans and digital by Ms Margrethe Vestager. Mr Timmermans also has the second strongest position in the Commission.

The first priority of the current European Commission, the European Green Deal, is the most relevant for the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic. Its agenda is covered by two members of the Commission - the Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal and the Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.

Priorities of the Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans (2019-2024)

The Executive Vice-President is in charge of the Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA).

Priorities of the Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius(2019-2024)

The Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries addresses the protection of landscape, natural environment, seas and oceans, which are all part of the EU's social fabric and a source of great natural and economic wealth. His goal is to take measures to preserve and protect these areas and make the best use of their potential, including investing in the future and securing them for future generations. Environment, blue economy and fisheries are an integral part of the European Green Deal, which will help meet climate ambitions while creating jobs and sustainable growth.

Sinkevičius has committed himself to achieving the following objectives:

 

 

The Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries is in charge of the Directorate-Genereal for Environment (DG ENV) and the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).

Full text of EC President Political Guidelines accessible at:
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/political-guidelines-next-commission_en.pdf

Find out more information about the Commission Work Programme 2020 at:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/2020-commission-work-programme-key-documents_en

Find out more about F. Timmermans´s commitments made at the hearing in front of the European Parliament at:
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/commissioners/sites/comm-cwt2019/files/commissioner_ep_hearings/answers-ep-questionnaire-timmermans.pdf

Find out more about V. Sinkevičius´s commitments made at the hearing in front of the European Parliament at:
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/commissioners/sites/comm-cwt2019/files/commissioner_ep_hearings/answers-ep-questionnaire-sinkevicius.pdf