Mr Maroš Šefčovič was appointed Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth for the period from 1 October to 31 October 2009, when the mandate of the current European Commission runs out. Mr Šefčovič succeeds Commissioner Jan Figel, also a Slovak – the latter having resigned after being elected, on 19 September, to head the Conservative Christian Democrat Movement (KDH) in his country.

While different stakeholders expect him to keep this position in the future European Commission as well, judging by past practice, it could also be that Mr Šefčovič will try to ‘fight’ for a heavier portfolio than education. Before being endowed with the current portfolio, he served as the Slovak Republic’s ambassador to the EU.