2023-09-05 17:58:34
Danish Commissioner Margrethe Vestager is running for the presidency of the European Investment Bank. She went on leave from the EU executive. Didier Reynders takes over the Competition portfolio.
The waltz of portfolios continues at the European Commission. After the (definitive) departures of Frans Timmermans and Mariya Gabriel due to national ambitions, it is Margrethe Vestager’s turn to take leave. The Dane is officially seeking the presidency of the European Investment Bank.
During her unavailability, the powers of the executive vice-president were divided between different commissioners. Among these, Didier Reynders, a liberal like the Dane, who inherits the competition portfolio. A promotion for our compatriot, who will report, for these files, directly to the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. This is for the time being a temporary appointment: if the Dane was not selected to succeed the German Werner Hoyer, she might request his reinstatement at Berlaymont. The designation of the new head of the EIB might take place on 15th September next, during the informal meeting of finance ministers in Toledo. If Margrethe Vestager wins the post, Denmark will have to appoint a new commissioner, who will not necessarily exercise the (major) powers previously devolved to the vice-president.
In an interview at Evening, last July, Didier Reynders for his part opened the door to an “active” return to the political scene… If he is on an MR list for the (European?) election next June, the Brussels resident will have to “retire of the work of the Commission throughout the period of active participation in the campaign”. A scenario defined by the European code of conduct, which should concern more than one commissioner…
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