Maroš Šefčovič

As Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maroš Šefčovič is at the center of the hurricane. The 59-year-old Slovakian, who always wears a matching tie and pocket square, is the last hope of those member states who, like Germany, are hoping for a future for their export-oriented economic models despite Trump's tariff policy and Chinese industrial policy. That is why he is not only fighting the most orderly rearguard battles possible in the EU's two most important trade relations, but is also traveling the world to conclude as many trade agreements as possible with other trading partners. Šefčovič jumps from one difficult negotiation to the next. But if even the smooth and cordial diplomat does not manage to provide the European export industry with new sales channels, Europe's export-oriented economies will have to sing a requiem for their economic model.