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Spain proposes Energy Minister Ribera for EU Commissioner post

Spain has proposed its Energy and Environment Minister Teresa Ribera as a European Union Commissioner, a government spokesperson stated on Wednesday.

Ribera has actually shepherded Spain's green agenda because 2018, championing a harder, quicker transition to a zero-carbon economy, prioritising renewable energy such as solar and wind over gas and nuclear plants, which she promotes phasing out.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's office has sent out a formal letter proposing that Ribera, 55, be appointed to the new Commission headed by Ursula von der Leyen, the federal government spokesperson said, verifying an earlier report by state news firm EFE.

The Spanish government and the S&D group of social democrats in the European Parliament will press to give Ribera a wider portfolio beyond environment matters, a source with direct understanding of the talks told Reuters.

Combining a single market for energy and carrying out clean tech industry policies could be amongst the new topics contributed to Ribera's remit, the source included.

Ribera is also expected to contend for among the Commission's. vice presidencies. The lack of strong female candidates would. lead the way for such an appointment, a source within Ribera's. Socialist Party stated.

Because Spain held the EU's rotating presidency, Ribera was a. essential figure at the COP28 environment change conference in Dubai,. reinforcing her image as one of the fiercest supporters of. Europe's agenda to fight climate change.

Issues such as the nuclear phase-out and the biogas industry. generated stress between Ribera and big energy players and. business lobbies, while environmental groups criticised the. energy prepare for not doing enough to deal with environment change.

(source: Reuters)