Slovenian diplomat Janez Lenarcic to serve as EU commissioner for crisis management

"This team will shape the European Way: we will take bold action against climate change, build our partnership with the United States, define our relations with a more self-assertive China and be a reliable neighbour, for example to Africa," Ursula von der Leyen said in a press release issued by the Commission after she presented her team and the structure of the next EU's executive body in Brussels.

Janez Lenarcic has previously held the position of secretary of state for European affairs, and worked closely for several years with the United Nations, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the EU.

Lenarcic will replace Cypriot MEP Christos Stylianides, who has been in charge of humanitarian aid and crisis management since 2014 in the outgoing commission headed by Jean-Claude Juncker.

As a next step, the European Parliament has to give its consent to the entire College of Commissioners. Once the European Parliament has given its consent, the European Council formally appoints the European Commission.