EC establishes 14 project groups for coordination of political priorities

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has established fourteen Project Groups in the Commission to ensure, without prejudice, to the decision-making process, the coordination on topical issues, on key crosscutting initiatives and horizontal policies. The aim of the Project Groups is to ensure preparation and political steer in the delivery of initiatives from conception to implementation. Each Project Group has its own mandate, composition, duration, and working methods, and each Group will be chaired by one Member of the College, designated by the President. Some groups are chaired by two Commissioners, and the group on the "Clean Industrial Deal" by three. Commissioner Zaharieva chairs the Project Group for Start-ups and Scale-ups. The respective group chairs will be responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of its mandate.

The Project Group on

• Clean Industrial Deal is jointly chaired by the Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera, the Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, Stéphane Séjourné, and the Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra.
• Artificial Intelligence is chaired by the Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen.
• External Action is chaired by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy /Vice-President, Kaja Kallas.
• Skills, Jobs and Social Rights is chaired by the Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu.
• Economic Security is chaired by the Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maroš Šefčovič.
• Defence Union is chaired by the Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius.
• European Savings and Investments Union is chaired by the Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, Maria Luís Albuquerque.
• Preparedness Union is chaired by the Commissioner for Equality; Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib.
• European Internal Security is chaired by the Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner.
• Water Resilience is chaired by the Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall.
• Affordable Housing is chaired by the Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen.
• Startups and Scaleups is chaired by the Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva.
• European Democracy Shield is chaired by the Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath.
• Vision for Agriculture and Food is chaired by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen.

The Project Groups have been formed in line with the Working Methods of the European Commission, adopted at the start of the current mandate. They fully reflect the Commission's political priorities, as defined in the Political Guidelines announced by President von der Leyen in July 2024, as well as in the Mission Letters by the President to the members of the College.

According to the European Commission, the Project Groups will facilitate collaboration with other Members of the Commission and associated services, ensuring collegiality and consistency. The Groups will focus on shaping initiatives, carrying out priorities, and ensuring consistency across different areas, especially in strategic fields, without affecting the decision-making process of the College or the role of its preparatory bodies.

The Project Groups are established for an initial period of one year which can be renewed for the duration necessary to achieve the specific mission for which they have been created. If new priorities arise that require the coordination of additional cross-cutting policy elements, new Project Groups may be established to address these emerging needs.

For more information:

EC - press release