Statement by President von der Leyen on the resignation of Commissioner Gabriel

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has accepted the resignation of Commissioner  Mariya Gabriel. Gabriel was presented to the President of the Republic of Bulgaria to receive the mandate to form a government and has therefore submitted her resignation as a member of the Commission.

The Commission President thanked Mariya Gabriel for her role as Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. During her three-and-a-half year term, she had made an important contribution to promoting the Commission’s priorities in this area.

Von der Leyen emphasised: “I am particularly grateful to Commissioner Gabriel for the excellent implementation of our Horizon Europe flagship initiative, for the strong impetus for innovation and start-ups by the European Innovation Council and for her personal commitment to making the European Year of Youth a success.

And I would also like to thank Commissioner Gabriel for her constructive and friendly contribution to the work of the College of Commissioners in general. I wish Mariya Gabriel all the best and I am confident that she will contribute her European experience in this and in the previous college for the benefit of her country.”

Meanwhile, Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager and Vice-President Margaritis Schinas take over with immediate effect over Commissioner Gabriel’s portfolio. Executive Vice-President Vestager will be responsible for innovation and research, Vice-President Schinas will be responsible for education, culture and youth.

Source: Representation of the European Commission in Germany