LI, 23.19.2014

With five members of the European Commission, including one Vice President, the European liberal democrats will be part of the governing body of the European Union for the next 5 years. The liberal team in the Commission, which includes 4 women, has been voted and confirmed this week by the European Parliament.

The commissioners from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Group will hold key posts vital to the interests of Europe’s future, including trade, justice, consumers and gender equality, competition, and the digital single market. Speaking as the posts were confirmed, LI President of Honour, Hans van Baalen MEP, said: “We Liberals have a pact with the big parties: we want quality and an answer to the question who coordinates what and how do they coordinate that? This Commission has to be a commission of change.”

Calling for strong liberal values to define the new Commission, LI Vice President on the Bureau, Cecilila Wikström MEP, said: “I expect that the new Commission presents brave, innovative and progressive bills and reforms which can create better opportunities to boost our competitiveness and growth and strengthen the confidence in our citizens.”

Delivering on its pledges for gender equality, the liberal group is the only political group in the European Parliament that has a majority of female commissioners.

The original publication