Sanchez hails ‘greatest-ever’ influence on Brussels after Ribera portfolio reveal
With Teresa Ribera getting what is set to be the highly coveted role of executive vice-presidency for clean, fair and competitive transition in von der Leyen’s newly proposed team, Spain could be on its way to having the most influence it has ever had in Brussels, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez boasted on Tuesday.
Ribera, Spain’s now-former Ecological Transition Minister, is on track to take on the strongly appraised competition portfolio and take on the position of executive vice-president for clean, fair and competitive transition, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcements of her new team on Tuesday (17 September). She must still go through the European Parliament hearings to make the final roster.
With this, Spain will have the most influence it has ever had in Brussels, Sánchez commented about the announcement on X.
Before Ribera, Joaquín Almunia was another Spaniard who held the coveted competition portfolio between 2010 and 2014 and was commissioner for economic and monetary affairs before that.
Right after von der Leyen disclosed the names of the future Commissioners on Tuesday morning, Sánchez said it was “magnificent news for Europe and a source of pride for Spain”.
“Your determination and leadership in the Spanish government have become an example for all, and now you will be able to defend those same values from the heart of Europe,” he said.
With Ribera’s appointment, the EU is gaining an “exceptional leader”, added Sánchez, who will soon have to find her replacement.
Ribera also commented on her appointment.
“It is an honour that I take on in a humble and committed way,” she said on X while praising the Danish Margrethe Vestager, who will leave behind a solid 10-year legacy.
Possible challenges ahead
“I have a lot to learn from what her (Vestager’s) activity has been in these 10 years. I am in contact with her, we know each other, and we appreciate each other”, said Ribera.
“She (Ribera) will lead the work to ensure that Europe is on track towards the goals of the European Green Pact, as well as that we decarbonise and industrialise our economy at the same time”, said Von der Leyen when presenting Ribera’s future attributions.
Should the new Commission be approved by MEPs as presented by von der Leyen, Ribera will share executive powers with future French Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné, who will be in charge of prosperity and industrial strategy.
On energy, Ribera will likely push to reduce retail electricity prices if the European Union is serious about competing with other economic powerhouses like the US, where retail electricity prices are currently much lower than in the EU. Promoting renewable energy and encouraging the development of the ‘hydrogen economy’ will be key.
Competition portfolio: a major challenge
In the area of competition, Brussels greenlights business operations with a European dimension, prevents large companies from abusing their dominant market position, and investigates cartels that fix prices or share markets.
In this sense, Ribera stressed on Tuesday that working for “the construction of an internal market that works” and in which “there is no concentration of power” has an “immediate social effect”, since the opposite would end up harming not only industry but also consumers and citizens.
Ribera also recalled that the EU is facing “new challenges” and highlighted the market concentration in the digital sphere, which she said the EU must look into “to avoid situations that in time end up damaging the economy or consumers.”
When Ribera officially joins von der Leyen’s second Commission, Spain will have three high-ranking officials in the relevant EU institutions.
Ribera will be joined by former economy minister Nadia Calviño (PSOE/S&D) as head of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Luis de Guindos (PP/EPP) as vice-president of the European Central Bank (ECB), among other senior officials.
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