**Update April 2010** The Commission published a user-friendly guide to the College of Commissioners for Citizens in its “Easy Reading Corner.” This brochure provides a brief insight into the work of the European Commission. It presents all of the Commissioners, their policy portfolios and the priorities they have set out for their five-year terms of office.
On Friday 27 November the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, announced the nominations for the new European Commissioners. The portfolio for Health and Consumers has been allocated to the Maltese Commissioner-designate, John Dalli. This guide will give a short biography of all the Commissioners-designate and further explain John Dalli’s background.
**Update April 2010**
In April 2010, the Commission published a brochure on the College of Commissioners. The guide “The European Commission 2010–14 Profiles and priorities” provides an explanation of the work of the Commission, the mandate of the College of Commissions, gives a short biography of every commissioner and provides the priorities of each commissioner according to the commitments made during the EP hearings. This guide is made specifically for citizens, and tries to reach them through not using jargon or overly technical language.
“The European Commission 2010–14 Profiles and priorities”is available here.
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission for a second mandate, published his manifesto entitled “Political guidelines for the next Commission”.
President Barroso put forward 5 policy priorities:
– Making a successful exit from the crisis;
– Leading on climate change;
– Boosting the new sources of growth and social cohesion;
– Advancing people’s Europe;
– Opening a new Era for Global Europe.
The document only includes few references to health:
– The growth potential for “white jobs” (in health care and social services for children and the elderly);
– “The changes that are taking place in our society will also bring
demand for new services and thus new jobs. For example, with the ageing of our population there will be a need to give a boost to the overall development of the social and health services’ sector, for instance by establishing a quality framework for public and social services, thus recognising their importance in the European model of society”;
– Innovation and ehealth are mentioned;
– Barroso recognizes ageing as a key challenge and insists on “the need to have healthy, fulfilling longer life spans. This also requires a thriving economy to supply sound public finances, so that we can pay for healthcare for the elderly”
– The EU’s commitment to achieve the Millennium Development Goals is repeated.
To read the full document, please click [here->
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/president/pdf/press_20090903_EN.pdf]
President Barroso will met with the chairs of the seven political groups in the European Parliament in order to present his programme. The groups had previously elaborated lists of political demands to the attention of the candidate for the position of President of the European Commission:
Priorities of the EPP Group
On 16 November 2009, the EPP group (Christian Democrats) formulated five political “demands” the next Commission should respect:
– 1. A Europe that upholds its values: defend human dignity, tolerance,freedom and peace. Promote a more responsible society based on the family and the community and respectful of the environment.
The Commission should defend a strengthened solidarity between citizens, generations and the Member States.
The Commissioners should however focus on a Europe based on the individual, and defend the free market economy with respect for subsidiarity.
– 2. A more secure Europe
– 3. A Europe of research and innovation
– 4. A Europe founded on sustainable growth based on reforms faithful to the principles of a social market economy, which are freedom, solidarity and responsibility. This includes a focus on the protection of the environment and the well-being of citizens.
– 5. A stronger Europe: on the external stage, a clear international ambition and a firm commitment; on the internal stage the consolidation of Europe, the provision of the means for its ambitions and the development of own resources.
The EPP group has not yet formulated more detailed priorities for cross-sector policies, including health.
Priorities of the ALDE Group
On 15 December the ALDE group (liberals) released a detailed Strategic Programme 2009-2014, along five main priorities:
– tackling the economic and financial crisis by a sustainable recovery,
– rethinking the budget and introducing real own resources, tackling
– climate change seriously with an environmentally integrated society, fighting for freedom and
– fundamental rights and promoting a coherent Europe strategy in the world.
Health priorities
In the area of health the ALDE group highlighted the following priorities:
– the proposed directive on Patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare must not be watered down by Member States.
– European patients’ rights in general should be strengthened with an overall goal of guaranteeing equal access to safe and high-quality health services and treatment for all citizens. Therefore the Commission should resist the Council’s attempts to block the directive on information to patients.
– More coherence of EU policies is needed in the field of environmental health (considering climate change and new forms of environmental pollution) and the impact of food quality on human health. The latter should be addressed in an integrated way, involving other policy areas such as the CAP, research policy and the internal market.
– Addressing the wider factors determining health, and strengthening measures to prevent disease and health risks should be key elements of a sustained and reinforced EU public health strategy. The inclusion of health concerns into all EU policies should be reinitiated. A smoke-free environment in all public and work places should be an objective for the Commission.
– Focus on health literacy should be part of a comprehensive and coherent strategy for health at EU level.
– The impact of ageing on public health and healthcare systems and the fight against health inequalities should be given high priority in EU health policies
– Following the transfer of pharmaceutical policy to the health portfolio, and given the new powers in this field provided by the Lisbon Treaty, the Commission should develop a strong health policy with the full integration of medicinal products.
Other political groups
The S&D (centre-left), and Greens/EFA groups outlined the following priorities in the context of the reelection of Jose Manuel Barroso as European Commission President in September 2009.
– List of key demands from the S&D
– List of key demands from ALDE
– List of key demands from the Greens
Barroso announced the portfolios responsibilities for the next Commission which includes the following Commissioner-designates[biographical indications are taken from the European Parliament’s [website ]]:
– John DALLI (Malta): Health and Consumer Policy.
” Born in 1948, he studied to become a Chartered Accountant. Later he was variously Social Policy Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister, Finance and Economic Services Minister. He is a member of the Nationalist Party which is allied to the EPP.”
– Máire GEOGHEGAN-QUINN (Ireland): Research and Innovation.
“Born in 1950, the former teacher has been Minister of Education 1982, European Affairs 1987-1991, Tourism, Transport and Communications 1992-1993 and Justice 1993-1994. She has been a Member of the European Court of Auditors since 1999 and is a member of the Fianna Fáil party who are in the Liberal ALDE group in the European Parliament.”
– László ANDOR (Hungary): Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. “Born in 1966, Mr Andor studied economics. He has been a Member of the board of directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development since 2005. He has no party political affiliation though he has exercised a range of functions on behalf of the Hungarian Socialist Party. ”
– Connie HEDEGAARD (Danish): Climate Action.
“Born in 1960, she studied literature and history before becoming the Environment Minister 2004-2007 and then Energy Minister. She is a member of the Conservative People’s Party (EPP).”
– Janez POTOCNIK (Slovenia): Environment.
“Born in 1958, he graduated in Economics and later became Minister for European Affairs from 2002-2004. He was appointed European Commissioner for Science and Research in 2004. He has no party affiliation.”
– Dacian CIOLOS (Romania): Agriculture and Rural Development.
“Born in 1969, Mr Cioloş studied engineering and economics and was Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in 2007-2008. He has no party affiliation.”
– Andris PIEBALGS (Latvia): Development.
“Born in 1957, Mr Piebalgs studied physics and later went into politics.,Minster of Education from 1990-1993 and for Finance from 1994-1996. He became the European Commissioner for Energy in 2004 and is a former Member of the Latvian Way (ALDE), now a member of the EPP.”
– Karel DE GUCHT (Belgium): Trade.
“Born in 1954, he studied law and was an MEP from 1980-1994. Later he was Belgian Foreign Minister 2004-2009 before taking the post of European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid. He was the National President of VLD (Flemish Liberals and Democrats) from 1999-2004.”
– Neelie KROES (Netherlands): Digital Agenda and Vice-President.
“Born in 1941, Neelie Kroes studied economics and was a Dutch MP from 1971-1977 before becoming Minister of Transport, Public Works and Telecommunication. In 2004 she became Competition Commissioner. She is a Member of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy which sits with the ALDE group in the Parliament.”
– Janusz LEWANDOWSKI (Poland): Budget and Financial Programming. “Born in 1951, he studied economics and has been an MEP for the Civic platform party (allied to the EPP) since 2004.”
– Viviane REDING (Luxembourg): Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. Vice-President of the Commission.
“Born in 1951 and a Human Sciences graduate she has been a European Commissioner since 1999, first for Education and Culture and then for Information Society and Media from 2004. Ms Reding was an MEP from 1989 to 1999 for the centre right EPP group.”
– Siim KALLAS (Estonia): Transport. Vice-President of the Commission. “The finance graduate was born in 1948. He was Prime Minister of Estonia from 2002-2003 and also held the posts of Finance and Foreign Minister. He has been a Vice President of the Commission since 2004 and was Chairman of the Reform Party from 1994- 2004, which was allied with the Liberal ALDE group in Parliament.”
The announcement for the new Commission revealed several new portfolios, such as Climate Action; Home Affairs; and Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. Mr. Barroso has also made changes in other portfolios including Health and Consumer Policy (explained in details here), Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth; Digital Agenda; and Research and Innovation.
The new College of Commissioners will have 27 members, including seven Vice-Presidents of which three are women. The members of the College come from different political groups, with the majority being from the European People’s Party (EPP), and other members from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE). Several Commissioners are not affiliated with a European political group. 14 Commissioner-designates, including President Barroso, are members of the outgoing College of Commisioners.
Changes to the European Commission structure
Changes for DG SANCO:
– The Pharmaceutical Products and Cosmetics Units ENTR F.2 and F.3 move to DG SANCO from DG Enterprise and Industry (ENTR), consequently the European Medicines Agency comes under the Health and Consumer portfolio;
– The Biotechnology, Pesticides and Health Unit ENV D.4 moves to DG SANCO from DG Environment (ENV).
– The Consumer Contract and Marketing Law SANCO B.2 moves from DG SANCO to DG Justice, Liberty and Security (JLS) as part of the Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship portfolio.
Changes for DG EMPL:
– The Equality between Men/Women, Action against Discrimination, Civil Society Directorate EMPL G will remain within DG EMPL but be placed under the responsibility of the commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.
Changes for DG ENV:
– The Climate Directorate ENV C moves from DG ENV to the new DG for Climate Action (except the Clean Air Unit C.3);
– The Civil Protection Units ENV A.3. and ENV A.4 move from DG ENV to DG Humanitarian Aid (ECHO);
– The Biotechnology, Pesticides and Health Unit ENV D.4 moves from DG ENV to DG Health and Consumers (SANCO).
Changes for DG RTD:
– The Marie Curie Programme Units RTD T.2 and T.3 move from DG RTD to DG Education and Culture (EAC).
Change for DG JLS:
– The Consumer Contract and Marketing Law SANCO B.2 moves to DG JLS from DG Health and Consumers (SANCO) as part of the Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship portfolio.
Next steps
The candidates will appear in individual hearings before European Parliamentary committees from 11-19 January 2010. The entire College of Commissioners will be subject to a vote of approval by the European Parliament before its mandate can start. The vote of consent on the new Commission is foreseen for 26 January 2010. On the basis of this vote of consent, the Commission shall be appointed by the European Council and can then start work.
John Dalli as Commissioner-Designate
On 24 November, Malta’s Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi nominated John Dalli (EPP), the current Minister for Social Policy, as the country’s designate to the European Commission.
On 27 November, the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso presented the distribution of portfolios in the next European Commission, in which Mr Dalli is allocated responsibility for Health and Consumer Policy.
As this portfolio will encompass pharmaceutical and medical devices policy, significant changes are made to the organisation of the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers (DG Sanco), with the transfer of Pharmaceutical Products and Cosmetics Units ENTR F.2 and F.3 and Biotechnology, Pesticides and Health Unit ENV D.4.
The Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy will now be responsible for
– DG Health and Consumers (DG Sanco)
– the Community Plant Variety office,
– the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control,
– the European Food Safety Authority,
– the European Medicines Agency and
– the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers.
Mr. Dalli is currently the Minister for Social Policy of Malta. This portfolio includes family policy, social services, health and equality. In Malta, Mr. Dalli is known for trying to build consensus on health issues. At the moment, Mr. Dalli is working on Healthcare Reform in Malta.
Healthcare is an area the Commissioner-designate identified as a priority, more specifically making access to healthcare available for all EU citizens. Mr. Dalli commented, “People should have the same right to recover from an illness… My priorities in the health sector at EU level will be similar to the ones I applied in Malta: total accessibility to health care and the sustainability of the sector.”
Mr. Dalli’s Background
John Dalli is a trained accountant and is a member of several professional-representation organisations. He has previously lived in Brussels in 1977-79 , working for Blue Bell Malta Limited, a textiles company.
John Dalli became involved in politics in 1971 with the Nationalist Party youth movement. He organised the movement at the grassroots level and served in its executive committee.
In 1987 Mr. Dalli was elected as a Member of Parliament and held the following positions:
– 1987-1990 Junior Minister for Industry
– 1990-1992 Minister for Economic Services
– 1992-1996 Minister of Finance, 1998-2004 Minister of Finance and Economy
– 2004 Minister for Foreign Affairs and Investment Promotion
– 2008-today Minister for Social Policy
Next Steps
The European Parliament will send Commissioners-designate a series of written questions.
On the basis of written answers, parliamentary committees covering the area of competence of each Commissioner will hold hearings between 11 and 19 January 2010.
A final parliamentary vote in plenary will take place on 26 January 2010, and the new college of Commissioners is expected to take office on 1 February 2010.
—-
For More Information
Official press release of the European Commission
The members of the Barroso Commission designate
For more information on all the Commissioner-designates see European Parliament set for hearings of Commissioner designates
The biographies and CVs of all the candidates will be made available here
For an explanation of the European Parliament approval procedures see The procedure in detail
John Dalli’s official Biography
Malta selects Dalli as commissioner
EU shock as Health Commissioner takes control of pharma
New EU health chief seizes control of pharma policy
Updated: Health care reform launched: Patient registration scheme among key features