Appointment of Kadri Simson as European Commissioner for Energy

Author (Corporate)
Publication Date 2019
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Summary:

Reports, analyses and information on the appointment of Estonia's Kadri Simson as European Commissioner for Energy, in the European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen.

Further information:

Kadri Simson is a former minister of economic affairs from Estonia. She was initially appointed to replace the former Estonian Commissioner in the outgoing College of Commissioners (who decided to take up a seat in the European Parliament), but later indicated instead solely as the country's candidate for the new set of European Commissioners. Ms Simson was formally announced on 9 September 2019 by the President of the European Commission. Her portfolio was known on the following day, set to take on the role as the European Commissioner for Energy.

The relevant committees of the European Parliament held a hearing with Ms Simson on 3 October, in order to assess her capabilities to lead the portfolio. Media sources later reported that she had been approved as a suitable candidate, but not without criticism by some members of that committee.

Related Links
Official
European Commission: President-elect von der Leyen’s Mission Letter to Kadri Simson https://ec.europa.eu/commission/files/kadri-simsons-mission-letter_en
European Parliament: Kadri Simson’s replies to the European Parliament questionnaire https://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/media/20190927RES62444/20190927RES62444.pdf
European Parliament: Press Release, 03/10/2019: Hearing of Commissioner-designate Kadri Simson https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190926IPR62252/
European Parliament: Public Hearing of Commissioner-designate Kadri Simson, 3 October 2019 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/hearings2019/commission-hearings-2019/20190910STO60747/

News
ERR News, 11/07/2019: Kadri Simson remains sole European Commission nominee, says prime minister https://news.err.ee/960804/kadri-simson-remains-sole-european-commission-nominee-says-prime-minister
ERR News, 28/08/2019: Kadri Simson offered possible European Commission economy-related role https://news.err.ee/974489/kadri-simson-offered-possible-european-commission-economy-related-role
EurActiv, 10/09/2019: Estonia forfeits seat in Juncker’s outgoing Commission https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/estonia-forfeits-seat-in-junckers-outgoing-commission/
ERR News, 10/09/2019: Kadri Simson becomes European commissioner for energy https://news.err.ee/978815/kadri-simson-becomes-european-commissioner-for-energy
Postimees, 11/09/2019: Simson handed energy portfolio https://news.postimees.ee/6775140/simson-handed-energy-portfolio
EurActiv, 03/10/2019: Estonia joins EU’s climate-neutral club https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-strategy-2050/news/estonia-joins-eus-climate-neutral-club/
ERR News, 03/10/2019: Kadri Simson addresses European Parliament as incoming commissioner https://news.err.ee/987897/kadri-simson-addresses-european-parliament-as-incoming-commissioner
ERR News, 03/10/2019: Kadri Simson faces tough climate questions at commission hearing https://news.err.ee/987993/kadri-simson-faces-tough-climate-questions-at-commission-hearing
ERR News, 03/10/2019: European Parliament green-lights Simson as energy commissioner https://news.err.ee/988417/european-parliament-green-lights-simson-as-energy-commissioner
Reuters, 03/10/2019: Estonia's EU energy candidate questioned on climate credentials https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1WI15L
EUObserver, 03/10/2019: Estonian nominee's answers fails to convince all MEPs https://euobserver.com/environment/146159
EurActiv, 04/10/2019: ‘Acceptable’: EU’s new energy czar wins guarded backing from Parliament https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/acceptable-eus-new-energy-czar-wins-guarded-backing-from-parliament/
Forbes, 04/10/2019: New EU Energy Chief To Put Connections And Security At Heart Of Green Deal https://www.forbes.com/sites/davekeating/2019/10/04/new-eu-energy-chief-to-put-connections-and-security-at-heart-of-green-deal/#15a0ac822b20
Postimees, 04/10/2019: Simson spared re-examination https://news.postimees.ee/6793720/simson-spared-re-examination
ERR News, 09/10/2019: Italian Stefano Grassi to lead Kadri Simson's commission cabinet https://news.err.ee/990177/italian-stefano-grassi-to-lead-kadri-simson-s-commission-cabinet

Commentary and Analysis
Wikipedia: Kadri Simson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadri_Simson
EPRS: Briefing, September 2019: Hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Kadri Simson - Energy https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2019)642205

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