Following the European elections last June, in which the European People’s Party (EPP - Christian Democrats) secured 26.11% of the total votes, the bid of Ursula von der Leyen, an EPP representative, to remain as President of the European Commission gained momentum. In this context, she presented on 18 July her "Political Guidelines" to the European Parliament, a key strategic document outlining the direction she would pursue if reappointed. Now confirmed in her role, the priorities contained therein provide valuable insights into the key issues likely to shape the European Commission’s actions over the next five years.

Competitiveness, described in the document as one of “our era’s main challenges,” is, unsurprisingly, a central focus. The first chapter, titled “A New Plan for Europe’s Sustainable Prosperity and Competitiveness,” indicates that success in this area will critically depend on completing the clean energy transition within a framework of strategic autonomy, boosting research and innovation, deepening the EU Single Market, and strengthening the EU’s domestic industries, also in line with the objectives set out in the Green Deal Industrial Plan. The guidelines respond to the complexity of the challenges ahead, particularly in dealing with strong global competitors—mainly the US and China—within a tense geopolitical environment and in facing commercial barriers that often disrupt the international level playing field.

Against this backdrop, competition within clean tech industries and innovation is set to shape the EU’s end-of-summer institutional agenda and the European Commission's political priorities for the forthcoming term, which begins on 1 November 2024, when the new College of Commissioners takes office. In this context, the appointments of Commissioners responsible for key portfolios related to the competitiveness of the clean technology sector will be crucial in determining how President von der Leyen’s political guidelines will be concretely implemented.

With reference to this process, the deadline of 30 August for member states to propose candidates has been set, with each country required to submit two names—one male and one female. Several Commissioners who held important responsibilities related to industry, competitiveness, and the clean energy transition from the 2019-2024 term are expected to remain, although their responsibilities may change in the new term by being assigned different portfolios. The Netherlands has nominated Wopke Hoekstra again, the former Finance Minister who recently succeeded Frans Timmermans as Commissioner for Climate, while French Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton and Slovak Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, who inherited the Green Deal portfolio from Timmermans have both been put forward for a new term. Additionally, former Spanish Minister for Ecological Transition and newly elected Member of the European Parliament Teresa Ribera is well-positioned to join the next European Commission, with rumours suggesting she may be assigned a climate or energy portfolio.