The European Union has all but finalized its political agreement on the new team of 26 commissioners who will implement President Ursula von der Leyen’s policy agenda for the next five years. With a final vote still pending, it's expected that the new Commission will officially begin its mandate on December 1. As the EU turns its focus to vital areas such as digital infrastructure, tech investment, and regulation of Big Tech, three commissioners-designate stand out as key figures to watch in shaping the future of technology in Europe.
Teresa Ribera Rodríguez: Executive Vice President for Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition
Teresa Ribera Rodríguez, the incoming Executive Vice President (EVP) for Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition, will play a pivotal role in EU tech regulation. A Spanish center-left politician, Ribera will inherit a portfolio that merges climate policy with competition enforcement, which could directly impact the largest tech giants. This makes her one of the most powerful figures in the incoming Commission.
Ribera will also oversee the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which enforces stricter rules on Big Tech platforms to curb monopolistic behavior and ensure fairer competition. The DMA, which came into force earlier this year, targets practices like self-preferencing and mandates openness and interoperability. High-profile investigations into companies like Apple, Meta, and Google are already underway under her watch, and she is expected to continue these probes with a focus on increasing enforcement speed.
Additionally, Ribera has been tasked with addressing “killer acquisitions” (where large firms acquire smaller competitors to stifle innovation), which could disrupt M&A activity within the tech industry. Her portfolio will also emphasize state aid reforms, which aim to bolster the EU's competitiveness in sectors like microelectronics, semiconductors, and batteries.
Her leadership in competition policy will be closely watched, as penalties for DMA violations can reach up to 10% of a company’s global turnover. She has pledged to prioritize rapid enforcement and combat anticompetitive behaviors that hinder innovation.
Henna Virkkunen: Executive Vice President for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy
Henna Virkkunen, who takes the reins of the Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy portfolio, will oversee Europe's evolving approach to digital governance, AI, and cybersecurity. Virkkunen will play a crucial role in implementing the EU's AI Act, which aims to regulate AI based on risk levels, ensuring the technology is used responsibly while fostering innovation.
Her remit also includes the development of a European AI Strategy, the launch of the European AI Research Council, and the EU Cloud and AI Development Act—all designed to boost the competitiveness of European startups and SMEs in emerging tech fields. Virkkunen’s goal is to ensure that the EU becomes less reliant on external players by advancing tech sovereignty through investment in key areas such as quantum computing, supercomputing, and semiconductors.
Virkkunen will also lead enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which focuses on protecting consumers and regulating illegal online content. A key focus of her tenure will be tackling disinformation and online harms, particularly on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), which is already under investigation for breaching DSA provisions. Virkkunen has committed to working on cyberbullying and “dark patterns” (deceptive design practices), aiming to foster safer online environments for users.
Given the political sensitivities around Musk's X platform, how Virkkunen handles the DSA enforcement, particularly with regard to freedom of speech and platform accountability, will be a key area of scrutiny.
Ekaterina Zaharieva: Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation
Ekaterina Zaharieva, appointed as Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation, will be at the heart of the EU's efforts to support and grow its tech ecosystem. While Zaharieva does not hold an EVP title, her responsibilities will be critical for the future of European innovation.
One of her key tasks will be advancing the European Innovation Act, which aims to simplify the regulatory environment for innovative startups and scaleups. A core focus of her mandate will be improving access to venture capital, facilitating cross-border collaborations, and creating regulatory sandboxes to help startups test new technologies with less bureaucratic hindrance.
Zaharieva is also tasked with supporting EU research and development through the creation of the European Research Area Act, which will encourage the free movement of researchers, knowledge, and tech across the continent. Under her leadership, the European Innovation Council (EIC) and European Research Council (ERC) will also be expanded to better support deep-tech startups and foster collaboration between public and private sectors to scale homegrown innovations.
Further, Zaharieva will be involved in the development of the European AI Research Council, an initiative that aligns with the EU’s broader push to strengthen its AI capabilities.
Zaharieva's ability to reduce red tape and streamline funding access for European startups will be critical to the success of the bloc’s tech ecosystem. Her mandate also includes pushing EU member states to meet a 3% GDP target for research and innovation spending, a goal that underscores her focus on making innovation a central pillar of Europe’s competitiveness.
Key Takeaways
These three commissioners-designate — Ribera Rodríguez, Virkkunen, and Zaharieva — will be instrumental in shaping the EU’s approach to digital regulation, tech innovation, and competition policy over the next five years. As Europe seeks to balance technological sovereignty, regulatory enforcement, and innovation growth, the actions of these policymakers will have a profound impact on the future of tech in the EU and beyond.
From tackling antitrust issues with Big Tech to fostering a thriving startup ecosystem and enforcing new rules for AI, their work will influence the EU’s global competitiveness and set the stage for the digital landscape of the next decade.
Teresa Ribera Rodríguez: Executive Vice President for Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition
Teresa Ribera Rodríguez, the incoming Executive Vice President (EVP) for Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition, will play a pivotal role in EU tech regulation. A Spanish center-left politician, Ribera will inherit a portfolio that merges climate policy with competition enforcement, which could directly impact the largest tech giants. This makes her one of the most powerful figures in the incoming Commission.
Ribera will also oversee the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which enforces stricter rules on Big Tech platforms to curb monopolistic behavior and ensure fairer competition. The DMA, which came into force earlier this year, targets practices like self-preferencing and mandates openness and interoperability. High-profile investigations into companies like Apple, Meta, and Google are already underway under her watch, and she is expected to continue these probes with a focus on increasing enforcement speed.
Additionally, Ribera has been tasked with addressing “killer acquisitions” (where large firms acquire smaller competitors to stifle innovation), which could disrupt M&A activity within the tech industry. Her portfolio will also emphasize state aid reforms, which aim to bolster the EU's competitiveness in sectors like microelectronics, semiconductors, and batteries.
Her leadership in competition policy will be closely watched, as penalties for DMA violations can reach up to 10% of a company’s global turnover. She has pledged to prioritize rapid enforcement and combat anticompetitive behaviors that hinder innovation.
Henna Virkkunen: Executive Vice President for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy
Henna Virkkunen, who takes the reins of the Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy portfolio, will oversee Europe's evolving approach to digital governance, AI, and cybersecurity. Virkkunen will play a crucial role in implementing the EU's AI Act, which aims to regulate AI based on risk levels, ensuring the technology is used responsibly while fostering innovation.
Her remit also includes the development of a European AI Strategy, the launch of the European AI Research Council, and the EU Cloud and AI Development Act—all designed to boost the competitiveness of European startups and SMEs in emerging tech fields. Virkkunen’s goal is to ensure that the EU becomes less reliant on external players by advancing tech sovereignty through investment in key areas such as quantum computing, supercomputing, and semiconductors.
Virkkunen will also lead enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which focuses on protecting consumers and regulating illegal online content. A key focus of her tenure will be tackling disinformation and online harms, particularly on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), which is already under investigation for breaching DSA provisions. Virkkunen has committed to working on cyberbullying and “dark patterns” (deceptive design practices), aiming to foster safer online environments for users.
Given the political sensitivities around Musk's X platform, how Virkkunen handles the DSA enforcement, particularly with regard to freedom of speech and platform accountability, will be a key area of scrutiny.
Ekaterina Zaharieva: Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation
Ekaterina Zaharieva, appointed as Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation, will be at the heart of the EU's efforts to support and grow its tech ecosystem. While Zaharieva does not hold an EVP title, her responsibilities will be critical for the future of European innovation.
One of her key tasks will be advancing the European Innovation Act, which aims to simplify the regulatory environment for innovative startups and scaleups. A core focus of her mandate will be improving access to venture capital, facilitating cross-border collaborations, and creating regulatory sandboxes to help startups test new technologies with less bureaucratic hindrance.
Zaharieva is also tasked with supporting EU research and development through the creation of the European Research Area Act, which will encourage the free movement of researchers, knowledge, and tech across the continent. Under her leadership, the European Innovation Council (EIC) and European Research Council (ERC) will also be expanded to better support deep-tech startups and foster collaboration between public and private sectors to scale homegrown innovations.
Further, Zaharieva will be involved in the development of the European AI Research Council, an initiative that aligns with the EU’s broader push to strengthen its AI capabilities.
Zaharieva's ability to reduce red tape and streamline funding access for European startups will be critical to the success of the bloc’s tech ecosystem. Her mandate also includes pushing EU member states to meet a 3% GDP target for research and innovation spending, a goal that underscores her focus on making innovation a central pillar of Europe’s competitiveness.
Key Takeaways
These three commissioners-designate — Ribera Rodríguez, Virkkunen, and Zaharieva — will be instrumental in shaping the EU’s approach to digital regulation, tech innovation, and competition policy over the next five years. As Europe seeks to balance technological sovereignty, regulatory enforcement, and innovation growth, the actions of these policymakers will have a profound impact on the future of tech in the EU and beyond.
From tackling antitrust issues with Big Tech to fostering a thriving startup ecosystem and enforcing new rules for AI, their work will influence the EU’s global competitiveness and set the stage for the digital landscape of the next decade.