The new European Commissioner for energy took office on Dec. 1, the European Commission (EC) announced Monday.
The new European Commission take office on Sunday, led by President Ursula von der Leyen and the new Commissioner in charge of the energy portfolio was named as Kadri Simson, according to the EC statement.
'After last week’s vote of approval by the European Parliament of the college of Commissioners, the new European executive starts its work today. Ms Simson, Estonia’s former Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure, will be in charge of steering European energy policy throughout the five years of the Commission’s mandate,' the statement read.
The new commissioner's objectives will be 'to focus on further developing an integrated, interconnected and properly functioning European energy market, in order to help keep prices down for consumers, help increase the use of clean energy and make energy supply more reliable and secure,' according to the EC.
The Commission reiterated its aim for Europe to reduce emissions further and faster by at least 50% by 2030 to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent.
'Given energy production and use accounts for 75% of the EU’s emissions, energy will have a central role to play in the European Green Deal, which, in the words of President von der Leyen, is a must for the health of our planet and our people – and for our economy,' the statement read.
The European Green Deal is the EU’s new growth strategy, which aims to help cut emissions while creating jobs and a generational transition towards climate neutrality by the mid-century.
By Ebru Sengul
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr