Slovenian Violeta Bulc was appointed European commissioner for transport at the start of November last year, as one of the top cabinet of new commission president Jean-Claude Juncker.
Bulc had only held a post in the Ljubljana government since September as a minister without portfolio responsible for development when she was parachuted into Brussels after members of the European Parliament rejected Slovenia’s first candidate, Alenka Bratusek.
After reportedly giving a good performance and understanding of the issues facing European transport herself, MEPs backed Bulc’s appointment.
At that time, Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt said: “Bulc will help Juncker to implement a change of culture within the European Commission. She will help him create a commission that is less bureaucratic, a commission that will make Europe more innovative, more SME-friendly and, therefore, better able to face competition with other trading blocs.”
She appears to be living up to those hopes, judging by comments from shipowners who have met her.
Thomas Rehder, president of the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), said Bulc made a good impression when they met recently on a visit to a Grimaldi ship. “She is an engineer, so you can certainly have good discussions with her in the ship’s control room with the chief engineer.”
Niels Smedegaard, chief executive of Denmark’s DFDS and a board member of Interferry, was also positive after meeting her. “I felt there was a complete open door and that she was listening. I think there is a unique chance here.”
Smit’s Peter Vierstraete, who is also chairman of the European Tugowners Association, added: “She wants to learn. That is extremely positive.”
Bulc studied computer science and informatics, and took a masters degree in information technology in San Francisco. She returned to Slovenia as a telecoms executive and spent 20 years in business before making the switch to politics full time last year.
In a speech to the European Shipping Week conference she gave positive signals that she has grasped the key role the industry plays. “Thanks to shipping, our industry can reach markets around the world. This gives Europe’s leading position in shipping a strategic importance.”
She added: “There is a lot we can achieve together.”
