Update 2 | Vella expected to carry out 'in-depth evaluation' of EU hunting laws

The Juncker Commission

Adds Karmenu Vella's mission statement

Malta’s Commissioner-designate Karmenu Vella has been given the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries portfolio by the President-elect of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker.

In a lengthy press conference, Juncker announced the composition of the College of Commission, bringing to an end days of speculation, leaks and rumours surrounding the appointments.

Only last night, Reuters reported Vella, 64, would be given the youths and multilingualism portfolio.

Malta is not new to the Fisheries portfolio, having already been assigned the portfolio between 2004 and 2010, under the then European Commissioner Joe Borg.

It is, however, new to the environment portfolio that will see Vella also responsible for, amongst others, the EU's Birds Directive, which outlaws hunting in spring and trapping.

Among other priorities, Vella is now expected "to carry out an in-depth evaluation of the Birds and Habitats directives and assess the potential for merging them into a more modern piece of legislation”.

Malta is currently the only EU member state to have a recreational spring hunting season thanks to a derogation from the Birds Directive, which normally protects migratory birds from being hunted during this crucial stage of their life cycle.

“This is an opportunity to make a fresh start and address the geopolitical situation around us and strengthen economic recovery to deliver on jobs and economic growth,” Juncker told reporters gathered at the press conference in Brussels.

“I think I have the right team to do so… convinced that it is a winning team.”

Juncker described the new College of Commissioners as one endowed with the necessary expertise to tackle the geopolitical, economic and other challenges the EU faces.

He admitted that he was not happy with the number of women nominated by the member states to serve as Commissioners: “We started with just three female candidates and succeeded in increasing the number to nine. But this is not an advancement as far as gender equality is concerned.”

Fielding questions by the press, Juncker said he hoped that the European Commissioners will represent all the policies of the Commission in their home countries, regardless of their portfolios.

“I would the European Parliament to vote in favour of this Commission,” he added.

The Juncker Commission has a 33% representation of women in the European Commission, similar to Barroso’s second Commission. The average age of the seven vice-presidents – three women and four men – is 49.

Juncker’s “strong and experienced team” is made up of five former prime ministers and four deputy prime ministers; 19 former ministers; eight members with extensive foreign relations experience; 11 members with solid economic and finance background; seven former commissioners; eight former or current MEPs and nine who campaigned in the 2014 European Parliament elections.

A new team of 28 Commissioners (one from each EU country) is appointed every five years.

The European Council nominates a candidate to be president of the Commission, who must be approved by a majority of members of the European Parliament. If the MEPs reject the candidate, the Council has one month to put forward another. The president-elect chooses the commissioners (and their policy area) from candidates put forward by EU countries.

The list of commissioners is then submitted for approval (by qualified majority) first to the Council of Ministers, then to Parliament. If Parliament approves, the new Commission is officially appointed by the Council.