New mandate, new team. Or almost. Re-elected for another four years at the head of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso has already announced the new team, which brings changes in the area of the Information Society.
The well-known Viviane Reding, commissioner for the Information Society and Media, now assumes one of the commission’s vice-presidencies (there are 7 in all), which she accumulates with the portfolio of justice, fundamental rights and citizenship.
Dropping the term “Information Society”, the new commission, which has 27 members including President Barroso, will have a commissioner for the “Digital Agenda”, portfolio that was taken over by Neelie Kroes, who is also one of the deputy presidents of the executive and who is best known in the ICT world for her forays to limit competition violations in this area.
The new executive must now be submitted to the European Parliament for approval, which will be voted on 26 January 2010, followed by a vote by the European Council. The new commission’s term of office will run until 31 October 2014.
