Leadership

Geoghegan-Quinn given Research & Innovation portfolio

27.11.2009
Ireland’s nominee to the European Commission Máire Geoghegan-Quinn has been allocated the Research and Innovation portfolio by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD made the announcement this morning, saying that the Research and Innovation portfolio was a “hugely important” portfolio that resonates very strongly with Ireland’s smart economy agenda.

He added that President Barroso has stressed recently that, in the context of moving towards a more competitive, more sustainable and fairer economy, “a top priority would be new sources of growth based on the famous knowledge triangle of research, education and innovation”.

In this context, the Research and Innovation Commissioner will play a key role in the drive to maintain and create jobs, and stimulate economic growth, in Europe, the Taoiseach said.

Geoghegan-Quinn’s new portfolio includes the European Union's important Research Framework Programme, which has a budget of in excess of €50bn over seven years (2007 - 2013).

The EU research agenda spans a wide range of areas, including information and communication technology and science, but is also extending to other crucial policy areas such as climate change, energy efficiency, health and food security.

The portfolio will also cover the main EU research institutes and structures, including The Joint Research Centre (JRC), The European Research Council (ERC), The Research Executive Agency (REA) and The European Research Council Executive Agency (ERCEA).

The portfolio is seen as one of the more important EU positions which was up for grabs.

Barroso names 27-strong leadership team
Other appointments made by President Barroso today include Finland's Olli Rehn, the current EU enlargement commissioner, who landed one of the top portfolios as commissioner for economic and monetary affairs.

The former holder of that post, Joaquin Almunia, has been given the competition portfolio vacated by Neelie Kroes, who moves on to look after Europe's digital agenda.

The former French finance minister Michel Barnier was given the EU's key internal market and financial services job which is being vacated by Ireland’s former finance minister Charlie McCreevy.

Meanwhile, the Belgian Karel De Gucht has been appointed as the new trade commissioner, while Günther Oettinger of Germany takes over the energy portfolio.