- European Commissioner for Energy
-
European Commissioner
for EnergyAppointer Jose Manuel Barroso[1] Term length Five years Inaugural holder Wilhelm Haferkamp Formation 1958 Salary €19,909.89 per month[2][3] Website European Commission The Commissioner for Energy is a member of the European Commission. The current Commissioner is Günther Oettinger (EPP).
Contents
Responsibilities
The Commissioner holds responsibility for the European Union's energy policy as well as nuclear issues (Euratom). It was previously a backwater in the Commission but has now become sought-after as the European energy policy has been developed. The Commissioner for Energy has to deal with ongoing gas disputes between Russia and Ukraine which threaten European supplies, reduce dependence on Russian energy and reduce carbon emissions.[4]
The Directorate-General serving this Commissioner is the Directorate-General for Energy, which was combined with Transport prior to 2010.
Günther Oettinger (incumbent)
Günther Oettinger was appointed as the new Energy Commissioner in February 2010. However he was criticised for corruption and avoidance of EU law in his home state.[5] His language skills have also been criticised[6] and his nomination was met with confusion in Brussels.[7]
Andris Piebalgs (2004–2010)
During his hearing with the European Parliament, Piebalgs stressed the importance of the environment in energy policy and was cautious of nuclear power. He received backing strong backing from the Parliament. He outlined his priorities as;[8]
- 1. Achieving a true internal market
- 2. Energy efficiency: everyone can make a difference
- 3. Increase the share of renewable energy
- 4. Increased investments in technology
- 5. Safety and security of nuclear power
- 6. Make it easier for Member States to help each other in energy crisis
- 7. Developing external energy policy relations
The European Union is an active supporter of the Kyoto Protocol, which it signed alongside its member-states. In March 2007 the Union committed itself to cut CO2 emissions by 20 percent by 2020.[9] There is also a desire to reduce dependency on Russian energy supplies following the disputes between Russia and Belarus and Ukraine. (See also: Russia-Belarus energy dispute, Russia-Ukraine gas dispute.) In April 2007 five southern European countries signed a deal to build an oil pipeline from the Black Sea to Italy which will help diversify energy sources.[10]
Piebalgs head of cabinet is Andris Ķesteris, his deputy head is Christopher Jones and his spokesperson is Ferran Tarradellas.
List of commissioners
Name Country Period Commission 1 Wilhelm Haferkamp 
West Germany1967–1970 Rey Commission 2 Wilhelm Haferkamp West Germany1970–1972 Malfatti Commission 3 Wilhelm Haferkamp West Germany1972–1973 Mansholt Commission 4 Henri François Simonet 
Belgium1973–1977 Ortoli Commission 5 Guido Brunner West Germany1977–1981 Jenkins Commission 6 Étienne Davignon Belgium1981–1985 Thorn Commission 7 Nicolas Mosar 
Luxembourg1985–1989 Delors Commission I 8 Antonio Cardoso e Cunha 
Portugal1989–1993 Delors Commission II 9 Marcelino Oreja 
Spain1993–1994 Delors Commission III 10 Abel Matutes Spain1994–1995 Delors Commission III 11 Christos Papoutsis 
Greece1995–1999 Santer Commission 12 Christos Papoutsis Greece1999 Marín Commission 13 Loyola de Palacio Spain1999–2004 Prodi Commission 14 Andris Piebalgs 
Latvia2004–2010 Barroso Commission I 15 Günther Oettinger Germany2010 onwards Barroso Commission II See also
References
- ^ Oettinger was proposed by the Government of Geromany, with the post of Competition Commissioner being assigned by Barroso. The whole Commission was then nominated by the Council of the European Union and approved by the European Parliament.
- ^ REGULATION No 422/67/EEC, 5/67/EURATOM OF THE COUNCIL, EurLex
- ^ Base salary of grade 16, third step is €17,697.68: European Commission: Officials' salaries – accessed 19 March 2010
- ^ Who’s who in the new Commission, Financial Times November 2009
- ^ http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,675300,00.html
- ^ http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/bild-english/world-news/2010/01/27/german-politician-oettinger/ridiculed-on-youtube-for-terrible-english.html
- ^ http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,657601,00.html
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
External links
- Commissioners website
- EU Energy website
- Andris Piebalgs interview on eGov monitor
- Interview with Andris Piebalgs on Euractiv
- Andris Piebalgs: The EU’s energy challenges
Current European Commission Portfolios 
Agriculture and Rural Development · Climate Action · Competition · Development · Digital Agenda · Economic and Monetary Affairs · Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth · Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion · Energy · Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy · Environment · Financial Programming and Budget · Health and Consumer Policy · High Representative · Home Affairs · Industry and Entrepreneurship · Internal Market and Services · International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response · Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration · Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship · Maritime Affairs and Fisheries · Regional Policy · Research, Innovation and Science · Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud · Trade · Transport
Categories:- Portfolios in the European Commission
- Energy policies and initiatives of the European Union
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