27th November 2009

Bridges Weekly | EU Selects its Next Trade Commissioner

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The former Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht has been chosen by the President of the European Commission to lead the EU’s international trade negotiations.

De Gucht has been selected to take over as the EU’s trade commissioner from Lord Baronness Catherine Ashton of Upholland, who was appointed earlier this month to become the EU’s first ‘High Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy’ (see Bridges Weekly, 25 November 2009, http://ictsd.org/i/news/bridgesweekly/61994/).

In addition to appointing De Gucht, the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, also picked candidates for the other top positions in the next EU Commission.

The EU Parliament must approve each of the Barroso’s selections for commissioner positions, with votes expected to take place in mid-January 2010.

Since Ashton will leave her job as trade commissioner on 1 December, the post will be temporarily filled by Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who is also in charge of the EU’s External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy.

If approved, De Gucht would become the first trade commissioner to come from one of the EU’s smaller member states. The previous two trade commissioners - Ashton and Peter Mandelson - were British, and prior to that the post was held by France’s Pascal Lamy, who is now the chief of the World Trade Organization.

Following news of his appointment, De Gucht said in a prepared statement: “Trade is at the heart of everything we do and is ultimately about shaping a more prosperous world with shared opportunities. I recognise that this role will bring with it important responsibilities and challenges. The Commissioner for Trade represents the interests of all the EU Member States in trade talks with other countries and regional blocs.”

ICTSD reporting.

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