The European Commission’s Vice-President-designate on Demographic Change and Democracy, Ms Dubravka Suica, supported the Intergroup in her capacity of MEP, as she waits to be confirmed in her role as Commissioner. The Intergroup also received support from two Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament: Ms Mairead McGuinness of Ireland and Othmar Karas of Austria. The campaign for the Intergroup is ongoing, let us know if you want to join!
Ms Dubravka Suica has been designated as candidate by the European Commission’s President-elect, Dr Ursula von der Leyen, as Vice-President for Demographic Change and Democracy. In her mission letter, she is tasked to come up with a Green Paper on Demographic Change to respond the the challenges that this fundamental development poses in different policy areas in the EU. Before being elected an MEP in the May 2019 European elections, she was mayor of the Croatian city of Dubrovnik for eight years. A Member of the European Parliament since the accession of Croatia in 2013, serving in the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Security and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Ms Mairead McGuinness has been working in national media in Ireland before being elected an MEP in 2004 and was elected Vice-President of the Parliament in 2014 and 2019. As an MEP, she serves in the Committees for Agriculture and Rural Development and has served in the past in the Committee on Petitions. As a Vice-President, she is responsible for the relations with national Parliaments and the exercise of the power of the European Parliament to elect the Commission President and the college of Commissioners, as well as the responsibility of the Commission vis-à-vis the Parliament. In addition, she has a strong interest in health-related topics, notably medical devices and standards in patient safety. She is a member of other intergroups: Animal Welfare and biodiversity
Mr Othmar Karas is member of the European Parliament since 1999 and was Vice-President of the European Parliament in 2012-14 and since 2019. As Vice-President, he is responsible for information policy and citizens’ relations. He serves in the Committee on Economy and Monetary Affairs and was in th epast member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, as well as Security and Defense. He was the lead candidate of his Austrian People’s Party in the 2014 and 2019 EP elections. Prior to his mandate in the EP, he was vice-president of the Austrian national youth council and national MP for 7 years and worked in the banking and insurance sector.
