Today, following his decision to stand as a candidate in the upcoming election campaign in the Netherlands, Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans resigned as a Member of the European Commission. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her gratitude to Executive Vice-President Timmermans for his many years of successful work for the Commission and European citizens and accepted his resignation with immediate effect.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has decided to entrust the role of Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal to Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič. She has also decided to temporarily entrust Vice-President Šefčovič with responsibility for climate policy until a new Dutch Commissioner is appointed.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "I thank Frans Timmermans for his passionate and tireless work on delivering the European Green Deal. He was a key member of my College of Commissioners. Thanks to his outstanding contribution and strong personal commitment, we have taken great steps towards achieving the EU's goals of becoming the first climate-neutral continent and raising the level of climate ambition worldwide. Frans Timmermans' contribution to the work of the Commission and the European project goes beyond the European Green Deal. He helped shape many of the Commission's initiatives in a truly collegial style.