With a statement, ECSA warmly welcomed the draft list of the European Commission’s College-designate presented by President-elect Ursula von der Leyen on September 10. This follows a series of formal interviews President-elect von der Leyen held, over the past weeks, with each of the persons suggested by the Member States as candidates for Commissioner.
The Council of the European Union must now adopt this list, after which the list will be published in the Official Journal of the EU.
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The European Parliament must then give its consent to the entire College of Commissioners, including the President and the High-Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission.
This is preceded by hearings of the Commissioners-designate in the relevant parliamentary committees. Once the European Parliament has given its consent, the European Council formally appoints the European Commission.
Commenting on this development, ECSA noted that as the operator of the EU’s international maritime transport of cargo, passengers and other services, the European shipping industry looks forward to working together with the new Commission to establish the best policies to help the industry achieve its ambitions.
President von der Leyen is setting a precedent in revolutionising the way the Commission works, by focussing on topics rather than hierarchy. We really support her aim to make the future College more coherent in its decision-making process. In particular, the new ‘One In, One Out’ principle will help reduce administrative burden for both citizens and industries. These changes are very much welcomed by ECSA
stated Secretary General Martin Dorsman.
Moreover, Mr. Dorsman added that ECSA appreciates the designation of Transport Commissioner Rovana Plumb, Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan, Executive Vice-Presidents Frans Timmermans and Margrethe Vestager, as well as the rest of the Commissioners-designate.
In addition, the organization added that such a development is important, as 76% of the EU’s external trade is shipped by sea and 40% of the world fleet is controlled by European shipowners.
Now, European shipping will actively contribute to the Commission President-elect’s ambition in the European Green Deal to make the EU the world’s first carbon-neutral continent.
Shipping is already a sustainable mode of transport, and we are committed to becoming carbon-neutral as soon as possible within this century
ECSA concluded.