Denmark has put forward Dan Jørgensen to be part of Ursula von der Leyen’s second team of EU commissioners, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirmed Wednesday, just two days before the deadline for making nominations.
The widely expected nomination of Jørgensen, a social democrat, was part of a wider cabinet reshuffle announced by Frederiksen, including the creation of a new post of minister for the European Union ahead of Denmark’s Council of the EU presidency in the second half of 2025.
“I am sure that he will be a good commissioner for Denmark and for Europe in an increasingly troubled world,” Frederiksen said, highlighting Jørgensen’s extensive experience.
“I have been in very close dialogue with Ursula von der Leyen about what responsibility Denmark should take on in the upcoming commission … I expect Denmark to get a central portfolio,” Frederiksen said at a press conference.
Jørgensen is not new to Brussels, as he started his political career in 2004 as a member of the European Parliament, a position he held until 2013.
During those years, he was vice chair of the environment committee, which led to his nomination in December 2013 as Denmark’s minister for food, agriculture, and fisheries under then-PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt.
In 2019 he rejoined the government under the leadership of Frederiksen, who appointed him as minister for climate and energy, a post he held until 2022. For the last two years he has been at the helm of the ministry in charge of development cooperation and global climate policy.
Jørgensen’s background could see him compete for an energy and climate portfolio with Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Teresa Ribera, who is widely tipped to lead the EU’s green agenda.
Danish media also reckon he could be given a portfolio dealing with international partnerships because of his time as development minister.
Denmark joins a long list of EU countries to have ignored von der Leyen’s request to submit two names, one male and one female, to ensure gender balance. With Jørgensen, 17 men have been put forward, compared with six women, including von der Leyen herself.
The post Denmark nominates Dan Jørgensen as EU commissioner appeared first on Politico.
