Antonio Tajani on Tuesday was named vice president of the European Commission, the European Union executive.
Tajani, who was recently named the EU's commissioner for transport, takes the place previously held by Franco Frattini, who stepped down to become foreign minister in Italy's new conservative government headed by Premier Silvio Berlusconi.
Frattini had been responsible for security and justice at the EC, a portfolio which passed to Jacque Barrot of France, the previous transport commissioner.
Tajani joined the EU executive after serving as whip for Berlusconi's Forza Italia party in the European Parliament.
