European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has revealed the new College of Commissioners, not only designating the people taking on roles of commissioners, but also, through defining each role, setting the priorities for the next five years.
“I know that you are very interested in the structure but allow me to speak first about the content that defines the structure. Together, we have defined core priorities”, von der Leyen said yesterday. “They are built around prosperity, security, democracy. The backdrop is: competitiveness in the twin transition, and they are very much intertwined and cross-cutting.”
One person from each of the 27 Member States of the European Union, except Germany, which is already represented by von der Leyen as President, has been entrusted with a portfolio of responsibilities and Apostolos Tzitzikostas, from Greece, has been designated as Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, the first time the tourism industry has ever been recognised in the title of a European Commissioner.
Until now, tourism has been on the list of responsibilities of Commissioners for Transport. In the last College, in the mission letter from von der Leyen to Commissioners for Transport Adina Vălean, tourism fell on the last spot of a 12-point duty mission: “I want you to cooperate closely with the Commissioner for Internal Market on a sustainable and competitive tourism industry.”
Now, in the letter to Tzitzikostas, tourism is the third point of 17: “You will intensify the Union’s efforts to promote a resilient and competitive tourism sector, in line with the EU Agenda for Tourism 2030.”
“Apostolos Tzitzikostas will be Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. He is responsible for mobility of goods and people. These are essential sectors for our competitiveness but also for our transitions, for connecting people and driving local economies”, von der Leyen said.
Among his other responsibilities, as Commissioner for Transport, he will be the point of contact with international organisations such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization.
In its turn, Airlines for Europe (A4E), has issued an “alternative mission letter” for Tzitzikostas, urging him “to adopt a pragmatic regulatory approach that prioritises a strong and competitive European airline industry, best positioned to accelerate progress towards net zero carbon emissions”, focused on: reforming Europe’s airspace, accelerating production of alternative technologies and fuels, tackling carbon and business leakage, and completing the single aviation market.
“Transport is fundamental to the success of the European Union we see today and countries like Greece are heavily reliant on air transport. Commissioner-designate Tzitzikostas has a growing in-tray; from reforming airspace to tackling carbon and business leakage, and completing the single aviation market”, A4E Managing Director, Ourania Georgoutsakou, commented.
Besides planning “an ambitious European high-speed rail network”, he is also tasked with preparing a “Single Digital Booking and Ticketing Regulation to ensure that Europeans can buy one single ticket on one single platform and benefit from passenger rights protection for their whole trip”, simplifying travel plans for EU citizens across the bloc.
He is also tasked with following up on the European Declaration on Cycling and publishing a first report on its progress by the end of next year. The European Declaration on Cycling, adopted on 3 April 2024, recognises cycling as one of the most sustainable, accessible and inclusive, low-cost and healthy forms of transport and recreation, and its key importance for European society and the economy. The Declaration will serve as a strategic compass for existing and future policies and initiatives related to cycling.
