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Juncker's new EU Commission: challenges and opportunities for brand owners
16/09/2014
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On the 10th of September, the European Commission President-elect, Jean-Claude Juncker, unveiled the new structure of the executive body and the names of those people which he hopes will lead it. The announcement, which contained a number of surprises, is likely to have a broad impact on the advertising industry, particularly in the digital environment and the role of self-regulation.
Frans Timmermans, the Dutch foreign minister, was appointed as a new “first vice-president” and has been labelled “the right-hand of the president”. Interestingly, Vice-President (VP) Timmermans will be in charge of 'Better Regulation,' amongst other things, where he will be responsible for ensuring that every Commission proposal meets the aims of 'better regulation' (i.e. subsidiarity, proportionality, and consideration of alternatives to regulation, including self and co-regulation).
He has been tasked by Junker to report within the year on how the Commission' approach to better regulation could be strengthened.
On the management of the Commission' digital portfolio, Juncker has created two Digital roles to replace the current Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes. VP for Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip, will steer the work of Günther Oettinger, the Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society.
Oettinger has been tasked to support Andrus Ansip as well as Vera Jourova, the appointed Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Commissioner in finalizing the negotiations on the Data Protection Regulation during the first six months of the Commission' mandate.
Mr. Juncker has also specifically requested a reform of the e-Privacy Directive and speculation suggests that an impact assessment is being drawn up as we speak.
Vytenis Andriukaitis becomes the new Health and Food Safety Commissioner; he has strong ties with the WHO built during his time as Lithuania' Health Minister. The Consumer Affairs Directorate headed by Despina Spanou, responsible for consumer protection, moves from DG SANCO to DG Justice as the portfolio of the new Justice Commissioner is extended.
Each Commissioner and the Commission as a whole will have to be approved by the European Parliament after individual hearings are held with the relevant parliamentary committees.
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Frans Timmermans, the Dutch foreign minister, was appointed as a new “first vice-president” and has been labelled “the right-hand of the president”. Interestingly, Vice-President (VP) Timmermans will be in charge of 'Better Regulation,' amongst other things, where he will be responsible for ensuring that every Commission proposal meets the aims of 'better regulation' (i.e. subsidiarity, proportionality, and consideration of alternatives to regulation, including self and co-regulation).
He has been tasked by Junker to report within the year on how the Commission' approach to better regulation could be strengthened.
On the management of the Commission' digital portfolio, Juncker has created two Digital roles to replace the current Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes. VP for Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip, will steer the work of Günther Oettinger, the Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society.
Oettinger has been tasked to support Andrus Ansip as well as Vera Jourova, the appointed Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Commissioner in finalizing the negotiations on the Data Protection Regulation during the first six months of the Commission' mandate.
Mr. Juncker has also specifically requested a reform of the e-Privacy Directive and speculation suggests that an impact assessment is being drawn up as we speak.
Vytenis Andriukaitis becomes the new Health and Food Safety Commissioner; he has strong ties with the WHO built during his time as Lithuania' Health Minister. The Consumer Affairs Directorate headed by Despina Spanou, responsible for consumer protection, moves from DG SANCO to DG Justice as the portfolio of the new Justice Commissioner is extended.
Each Commissioner and the Commission as a whole will have to be approved by the European Parliament after individual hearings are held with the relevant parliamentary committees.
Sign up to monthly WFA news
