Bulc was upbeat about the new Commission's plans today, while Juncker said he was very impressed by her.

"The responsibility that lays before us is huge, but the plans that the new Commission has are very exciting. I believe that with an extremely dynamic investment policy we can give the European economy a new boost. And transport will play a key role here," Bulc said in her first statement for the press.

She is also very happy with the team currently working in transport. "That is why I feel confident as I'm starting my new job and I believe we will do our best to contribute to the development of the EU," she told the press in Strasbourg.

Juncker meanwhile said that during their two meetings last week, Bulc impressed him with her know-how and her way of tackling problems. "I think she will make an excellent commissioner," he said today.

Asked about media speculation that Slovenia might be one of the five eurozone members to get a negative assessment of its budget plans by the Commission, Juncker said he was in close contact with the outgoing European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso on this.

Bulc commented on the suggestion that the new Commission will insist on fiscal consolidation and keep pressuring members states with budgetary issues by saying that "experience shows that agreements must be respected".

"I think member states will not be able to avoid meeting their commitments and will have to show at least very strong will and some concrete plans on how they will get closer to the promised figures," she said.

Answering a Slovenian journalist question about concrete infrastructural projects planed in Slovenia such as the rail upgrade on the Divača-Koper railway section and a north to south-east road link, Bulc pointed out that "the priorities are very clear" and that a "very nice chunk" of EU funds was intended for Slovenia.

But she pointed to the 'spend it or lose it' rule, noting that Slovenia had quite a few obligations to meet from the first three packages while already going for the fourth. "If we don't carry out these projects, we will lose the money."

Bulc said it was too early for her to name her priorities and that she would be happy to present them in about a month. "We are going back to Brussels on 1 November to do a very important task of setting concrete priorities and then boldly take the first steps."

According to her, the Commission will strive to set up a "very open dialogue" with all member states.

Bulc, a 50-year old entrepreneur unknown in politics until her appointment as Slovenian development minister in September, became Slovenia's commissioner nominee after the country's former PM Alenka Bratušek resigned as the designated Commission vice-president for the energy union due to poor performance at the hearing.