Jozef Síkela

The new composition of the European Commission and the distribution of portfolios caused puzzlement in Prague. The head of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, entrusted Jozef Síkela with the agenda of International Partnership and Global Gateway – a name that, apart from a handful of insiders in the Czech Republic, few people have heard of, instead of the long-talked about energy sector or international trade. EUROPEUM Institute analyst Zuzana Krulichová commented for Hospodářské noviny.

Disappointment with the negotiations and the weak position of the Czech Republic was voiced when the new composition of the European Commission was announced. The presentation of the post to the Czech nominee Jozef Síkela is accompanied by a debate on how influential the position of Commissioner for International Partnerships is. Experts say that although the government had bigger expectations, much can be achieved even with the portfolio at hand. The current Trade and Industry Minister could help the EU to be a counterweight to Russian and Chinese influence in emerging economies, and could also push for greater raw material security. For daily Česká justice commented Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute.

Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela has been appointed Commissioner for International Partnerships at the European Commission. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented on TN Live whether this is a win or a loss.

According to former Czech MEP Pavel Telička, the new Czech EU Commissioner Jozef Síkela will have the value he will create. What kind of cabinet he will build and who will lead it will also be important, as well as how he will handle the hearings in the European Parliament and how he will want to interfere with his comments and proposals in the portfolios of other EU Commissioners. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for ČTK.

The nomination of the Czech candidate Jozef Síkela for the post of European Commissioner for International Partnerships was analyzed in Express Novinek by Filip Křenek, an analyst at EUROPEUM Institute, as one of the podcasts guests.

Czech Industry Minister Jozef Síkela is to be the Commissioner for International Partnerships in the new European Commission. EU chief executive Ursula von der Leyen announced this at a press conference in Strasbourg. Political analysts are divided on Síkela's portfolio, they say the government expected more. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Czech Radio.

The Czech government wanted EU Commissioner nominee Jozef Síkela to be put in charge of the economic portfolio in the new European Commission. Síkela himself preferred energy, but instead he will end up in charge of the "international partnership and Global Gateway strategy" in Brussels, a less influential post than trade, which Prime Minister Fiala was pushing through. Filip Křenek, an analyst at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Hospodářské noviny on the post Síkela has been given by Ursula von der Leyen.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has announced the staff of the new European Commission. Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Síkela is to be Commissioner for International Partnerships. This portfolio includes the largest ever Directorate-General, which employs three thousand people and has a large financial envelope. Viktor Daněk, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute, comments for ČT24.

Jozef Síkela will be in charge of the International Partnerships portfolio within the European Commission. This was announced by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Martin Vokálek, Executive Director of EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Seznam Zprávy.

Instead of the expected energy portfolio, the Czech nominee for European Commissioner Jozef Síkela could get foreign trade. He would have at his disposal the bureaucratic apparatus of the Directorate General for International Trade, numbering some 700 employees, which is above average by Brussels standards. What could the mandate of the next Trade Commissioner entail? And what obstacles will he have to deal with? Filip Křenek, an analyst at EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Hospodářské noviny.

Commission President von der Leyen will announce the distribution of the portfolios for the European Commissioners soon. According to speculations, Jozef Síkela could get Energy portfolio, the trade area is also in play. But it could still change. Deputy Director at EUROPEUM Institute Viktor Daněk commented for Seznam Zprávy.

Ursula von der Leyen will present the new EU Commissioners list on Wednesday 18 September. The President of the European Commission may come with a new portfolio that has not been there before. Until then it is not sure what portfolio will Jozef Síkela get. Whether it would be the wanted trade discussed Žiga Faktor, deputy director of EUROPEUM Institute and head of the Brussels office, live on ČT24.