Piotr Serafin, Poland’s permanent representative to the EU, is running for EU Commissioner, Donald Tusk announced. The Prime Minister said that it is very likely that Serafin will be given the budget portfolio. The head of government also announced that he would like to consult with President Andrzej Duda this week on the candidacy.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced that Piotr Serafin will be Poland’s candidate for Commissioner in the European Commission. He is currently head of Poland’s Permanent Representation to the EU and from 2014-2019 was head of Tusk’s cabinet when he was President of the European Council.
Previously, from 2012 to 2014, Piotr Serafin held the position of State Secretary for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in 1999-2010 he worked in the Office of the Commission for European Integration.
Tusk announced Serafin’s candidacy after the end of Tuesday’s government meeting. As he stressed, his recommendation for the European Commission post was presented by EU Minister Adam Szłapka and was accepted “unanimously” and “with enthusiasm” by the entire government.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen expects member states to submit their candidates by the end of August. She will decide on the division of portfolios. The candidates for commissioner will then have to obtain the approval of MEPs in hearings in the European Parliament. The new composition of the EC will finally be approved by the Chamber in a vote.
Announcing that Piotr Serafin would be Poland’s candidate for commissioner in the European Commission, Tusk stressed that for a long time, when he served as head of the European Council, he was his “right hand”. He also recalled that this includes, among others: Thanks to Serafin, we were able to negotiate the previous record EU budget for Poland.
Tusk announced that Serafin’s selection was preceded by consultations with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. We considered several candidates, as usual, and Mrs Ursula von der Leyen agreed that we would finally nominate Piotr Serafin. – he said.
This week – I hope before the August 15th holiday – I will consult this proposal with Andrzej Duda – he announced. He added that Serafin’s candidacy will also be assessed by the Parliamentary Committee on European Union Affairs. You will then be formally communicated – said the head of government.
Tusk stressed that the portfolio Poland will receive depends primarily on the head of the European Commission, but – as he noted – “it seems very likely that the Polish Commissioner will get this key portfolio from Poland’s point of view, which would be the European budget.”
This portfolio gives you the opportunity to collaborate and influence various decisions in all areas of life in Europe. – said the Prime Minister.
Piotr Serafin is 50 years old. He graduated in economics from the Warsaw School of Economics and in law from the University of Warsaw. He also completed postgraduate studies at the University of Sussex in the field of European integration.
