IRELAND’S INCOMING EU commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn has secured the research and innovation portfolio targeted by the Government, a mid-level mandate described by commission chief José Manuel Barroso as central to his effort to restore growth to the European economy.
Moving Finnish commissioner Olli Rehn into the key economic and monetary affairs portfolio and Spanish commissioner Joaquín Almunia to the commission’s powerful competition division, Mr Barroso pledged to make economic recovery the priority of his new team.
He appointed Romanian commissioner Dacian Ciolos to the agriculture post and chose Danish commissioner Connie Hedegaard for a newly-created climate action portfolio.
“In five years’ time, I want this commission to have been instrumental in leading Europe out of the economic crisis towards a competitive economy that provides sustainable growth,” he said.
Mr Barroso prioritised economic growth when his first commission took office in 2004, but the EU fell into the deepest recession in its history. “What I expect now for this commission is to help Europe get out of the crisis, prepare what we call the exit strategies and put our growth on the right footing.”
Mr Barroso said he believed Ms Geoghegan-Quinn’s appointment would be well received in Ireland. “Even if your country has been facing very big challenges because of the financial crisis, you remain a country committed to the economy of the future.” Taoiseach Brian Cowen welcomed the appointment: “The research and innovation commissioner will play a key role in the drive to maintain and create jobs, and stimulate economic growth in Europe.”
Mr Barroso selected the new French commissioner Michel Barnier to succeed Ireland’s outgoing commissioner Charlie McCreevy in the internal markets portfolio, a move seen as a pay-back for French assent to the appointment of British commissioner Catherine Ashton as EU foreign policy chief.
The new team will not take office until the appointments are confirmed by the European Parliament, with hearings to start on January 11th.