Sir Julian King, a career civil servant, was nominated by ex-UK PM David Cameron to replace Lord Hill, who resigned after the Brexit vote.
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Mr. Juncker said in a letter on Tuesday that Mr. King’s new portfolio will have three priorities: tackling terrorism and preventing radicalization, disrupting organized crime and implementing a strategy to combat cybercrime.
Brussels insiders quickly speculated that by making Sir Julian King Europe’s anti-terror tsar, Juncker hopes to distract him from Brexit negotiations.
He may be extremely pissed off at the United Kingdom for voting for Brexit, but on Tuesday the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, announced his intention to make Westminster’s new man in Brussels the commissioner for security.
The approval of the European Council – made up of the 28 member states – is required before the appointment takes effect, while the Commission, the EU’s executive arm, is also expected to “seriously consider” the opinion of the European Parliament.
Britain’s previous commissioner – Lord Hill – held the portfolio for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union.
The new portfolio appears tailor-made for King, who has extensive experience in defence and security-from 1990 to 1994 as first secretary working on North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and European defence, and from 2004 to 2008 as the United Kingdom representative on the EU Political and Security Committee in Brussels.
Mr. Juncker informed new British Prime Minister Theresa May late Monday of his choice, the commission said.
Juncker also wrote to Robert Fico, Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, now holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU.
A Downing street spokesperson said in a statement that security is an issue best tackled with better cooperation across European Union states.
If confirmed, this would put London’s nominee, Julian King, in charge of an important policy area following a spate of terrorist attacks across the European Union, however one in which responsibility lies first and foremost with member states.
Mr Juncker said all commissioners must be “very determined and very responsible” in their work and must only have the “promotion of the general interest of the Union in mind”.
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He will be tasked with improving information and intelligence sharing, including efforts to upgrade Europol’s European Counter-Terrorism Centre.
