Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has made it known that Greece expects an important portfolio, particularly as he played a significant role in helping Commission President Ursula von der Leyen secure a second term.
Greece has nominated Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the governor of the Greek region of Central Macedonia, as its next European commissioner. Like all nominees put forward by each national government he still needs the endorsement of von der Leyen and the European Parliament and it’s for von der Leyen to decide what role each commissioner takes up.
Tzitzikostas might have to compete with Italy’s likely pick for commissioner, Raffaele Fitto, who is also aiming for one of several economic portfolios including cohesion, according to reports in Italian media.
Greece believes Tzitzikostas would make an ideal candidate for the cohesion position, according to the Greek official, because of his oversight of cohesion funds over the last 10 years as regional governor and his relationship with similar politicians across Europe. From 2020 to 2022, he served as the president of the EU’s Committee of the Regions, a Brussels body that represents local administrations.
“He also has an understanding of the changes that need to be made to make cohesion policy more effective and knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of the current system and procedures,” the official added.
The Commission is considering linking cohesion funding to the fulfillment of domestic reforms in the next EU budget, which will come into force in 2028. These plans have set alarm bells ringing among regions that are worried they will be sidelined by national capitals over how this money is spent. Given his pedigree, regions might see Tzitzikostas as a politically ally in the new Commission.
Until now, the bulk of cohesion funding, which was worth €392 billion over the period from 2021-2027 and aimed at helping boost growth in Europe’s poorer regions, has been paid according to agreed criteria rather than as a carrot for meeting targets. But countries may soon have to meet targets in return for their share.