Frans Timmermans is Executive Vice-President of the Commission, leading its work on the European Green Deal – Europe’s roadmap to becoming the first climate-neutral continent. In this role, Frans Timmermans is responsible for implementing the European Green Deal and the first European Climate Law to enshrine the 2050 climate-neutrality target into EU law. He is in charge of stepping up the commitment to the 2030 emission reduction target, increasing it to at least 55% by 2030, and undertaking international negotiations on behalf of the EU to strengthen the ambition of other major emitters by 2021. He leads the Commission's work on extending the Emissions Trading System and coordinates work on the Just Transition Fund – a key progressive policy from the European elections. He is developing the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Commission’s zero-pollution ambition, the circular economy and the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy, and many other initiatives. In 2019 Frans Timmermans was the PES Common Candidate in the European Elections to become the President of the European Commission, campaigning on the PES manifesto: A New Social Contract for Europe. At the election, Frans Timmermans’ national party – the PvdA – won the election in the Netherlands, doubling its share of the vote. Overall, the social democrats remained the second largest force in the European Parliament. Frans Timmermans has been a European Commissioner since 2014. From 2014-2019 he was First Vice-President of the EU Commission, in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Prior to this, he was the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs (2012-2014) and Dutch Minister of European Affairs (2007-2010). He has also been a Member of the Dutch Parliament Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA) (2010 - 2012 and 1998 – 2007). Aside from his native Dutch, Frans Timmermans is fluent in English, French, German, Italian and Russian. © Foto: EU

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