Barroso’s Commission, part deux

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Friday named the 26 people he wants to help him drive the EU’s day-to-day agenda for the next five years, including nominees for new posts that reflect major shifts in policy priorities, notably climate issues.

The incoming EU executive of nine women and 18 men, including Barroso, must still clear confirmation hearings in the European Parliament in January.

The most eye-catching new position is an EU climate action commissioner. Barroso has nominated to the job Connie Hedegaard, Denmark’s climate minister until last week, when she was put in charge of hosting the Dec. 7-18 global UN climate conference in Copenhagen.

The European Commission has never had an executive in charge of climate issues. And the title of the first such executive — climate action commissioner — suggests Barroso wants Europe to retain a leadership role in global efforts to reign in greenhouse gas emissions that stoke global warming.

Additionally, Neelie Kroes of the Netherlands — the EU’s active antitrust chief for the past five years — has been nominated as the EU’s digital agenda commissioner, charged with pushing Europeans to go online more, both at home and at work.

Barroso Commission II

Austria – Johannes Hahn (EPP) – Regional policy

Belgium – Karel De Gucht (ELDR) – Trade

Bulgaria – Rumiana Jeleva (EPP) – International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response

Cyprus – Androulla Vassiliou (ELDR) – Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth

Czech Republic – Stefan Fuele (PES) – Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy

Denmark – Connie Hedegaard (EPP) – Climate Action

Estonia – Siim Kallas (ELDR) – Transport (Vice-President)

Finland – Olli Rehn (ELDR) – Economic and Monetary Affairs

France – Michel Barnier (EPP) – Internal Market and Services

Germany – Günther Oettinger (EPP) – Energy

Greece – Maria Damanaki (PES) – Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Hungary – László Andor (PES) – Employment, Soclai Affairs and Inclusion

Ireland – Maire Geoghegan Quinn (ELDR) – Research, Innovation and Science

Italy – Antonio Tajani (EPP) – Industry and Entrepreneurship (Vice-President)

Latvia – Andris Piebalgs (EPP) – Development

Lithuania – Algirdas Šemeta (EPP) – Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud

Luxembourg – Viviane Reding (EPP) – Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship (Vice-President)

Malta – John Dalli (EPP) – Health and Consumer Policy

The Netherlands – Neelie Kroes (ELDR) – Digital Agenda (Vice-President)

Poland – Janusz Lewandowski (EPP) – Budget

Portugal – Commission President José Manuel Barroso (EPP)

Romania – Dacian Ciolos (EPP) – Agriculture

Slovakia – Maros Sefcovic (PES) – Institutional Affairs and Administration (Vice-President)

Slovenia – Janez Potocnik (ELDR) – Environment

Spain – Joaquín Almunia (PES) – Competition (Vice-President)

Sweden – Cecilia Malmström (ELDR) – Home Affairs

United Kingdom – Catherine Ashton (PES) – EU foreign policy chief (Vice-President)