What did we learn from Ursula von der Leyen’s lineup?
The new European Commission presented by Ursula von der Leyen is the outcome of extensive negotiations and balancing – and power moves by the commission chief, who will be beginning her second term in office.
The majority of capitals had asked von der Leyen for a strong economic portfolio – a request she said is impossible to fulfil.
Von der Leyen had originally asked capitals which are not nominating someone for a second term to put forward both a male and female candidate – but the majority nominated men.
The commission chief then pressed several capitals to change their nominees, in exchange for getting more high-profile roles.
The lineup presented this morning reflects the influence of the centre-right European People’s party, as well as von der Leyen’s own preferences.
Von der Leyen made a symbolic gesture nominating women for four out of six executive vice-president posts.
And candidates representing the EPP or nominated by EPP governments are taking key portfolios, including economy, migration, defence and budget.
Von der Leyen has also managed to remove an internal critic: on Monday, France’s European commissioner, Thierry Breton, dramatically resigned, writing in an open letter that the commission president had asked Paris to withdraw his name “for personal reasons that in no instance you [von der Leyen] have discussed directly with me”.
France’s new candidate, 39-year old Stéphane Séjourné, was awarded the post of executive vice-president for prosperity and industrial strategy.
Plus, in a gesture to Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, von der Leyen nominated Raffaele Fitto for an executive vice-president job.
Key events
Longtime commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said: “Thank you, EU Commission President von der Leyen, for your continued trust.”
“Truly honoured to be entrusted with trade and economic security as well as with interinstitutional relations and transparency. Crucial for the EU’s standing both at home and internationally.”
The Left group’s Manon Aubry has criticised the new European Commission lineup, arguing that in substance it would be the most right-wing in history.
🔴 A la conférence exceptionnelle des Présidents de groupe, @vonderleyen donne moins d’infos aux élus qu’à la presse, illustration du mépris pour notre parlement.
Sur le fond, sa nouvelle Commission sera la plus à droite de l’histoire avec pour la 1ère fois un vice-président…
— Manon Aubry (@ManonAubryFr) September 17, 2024
Finland’s prime minister Petteri Orpo – whose candidate Henna Virkkunen was nominated for an executive vice president post – said he is very satisfied with the choice.
Suomen komissaariehdokas @HennaVirkkunen saa painavan salkun. Hänestä tulee komission 2. varapuheenjohtaja, vastuullaan teknologia ja digitalisaatio, laaja turvallisuus sekä demokratia sisältäen oikeusvaltion puolustamisen. Olemme erittäin tyytyväisiä, onnea Henna! 🇫🇮🇪🇺
— Petteri Orpo (@PetteriOrpo) September 17, 2024
The Dutch prime minister, Dick Schoof, has also welcomed the new lineup.
“Wopke Hoekstra will take up the post of Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth. This is a key portfolio that will help determine our future in Europe: how we shape our economic growth, encourage innovation and invest in a sustainable manner,” he said.
President @vonderleyen has just announced the members of the new @EU_Commission. Wopke Hoekstra will take up the post of Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth. This is a key portfolio that will help determine our future in Europe: how we shape our economic growth,…
— Dick Schoof (@MinPres) September 17, 2024
Italy’s Giorgia Meloni has welcomed the nomination of Raffaele Fitto for a role as an executive vice president in the new European Commission, calling the move an important recognition for Italy’s central role in the EU.
Congratulazioni a @RaffaeleFitto per la nomina a Vice Presidente Esecutivo della Commissione europea con delega alla Coesione e alle Riforme. Un riconoscimento importante che conferma il ritrovato ruolo centrale della nostra Nazione in ambito UE.
L’Italia torna finalmente… pic.twitter.com/Gnw72y4bWc
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) September 17, 2024
What did we learn from Ursula von der Leyen’s lineup?
The new European Commission presented by Ursula von der Leyen is the outcome of extensive negotiations and balancing – and power moves by the commission chief, who will be beginning her second term in office.
The majority of capitals had asked von der Leyen for a strong economic portfolio – a request she said is impossible to fulfil.
Von der Leyen had originally asked capitals which are not nominating someone for a second term to put forward both a male and female candidate – but the majority nominated men.
The commission chief then pressed several capitals to change their nominees, in exchange for getting more high-profile roles.
The lineup presented this morning reflects the influence of the centre-right European People’s party, as well as von der Leyen’s own preferences.
Von der Leyen made a symbolic gesture nominating women for four out of six executive vice-president posts.
And candidates representing the EPP or nominated by EPP governments are taking key portfolios, including economy, migration, defence and budget.
Von der Leyen has also managed to remove an internal critic: on Monday, France’s European commissioner, Thierry Breton, dramatically resigned, writing in an open letter that the commission president had asked Paris to withdraw his name “for personal reasons that in no instance you [von der Leyen] have discussed directly with me”.
France’s new candidate, 39-year old Stéphane Séjourné, was awarded the post of executive vice-president for prosperity and industrial strategy.
Plus, in a gesture to Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, von der Leyen nominated Raffaele Fitto for an executive vice-president job.
Glenn Micallef, from Malta, said “it is a true privilege to be entrusted to lead EU policies and initiatives on intergenerational fairness, youth, culture and sport. I look forward to working with the European parliament and all stakeholders.”
It is a true privilege to be entrusted to lead #EU policies and initiatives on intergenerational fairness, youth, culture and sport. I look forward to working with the @Europarl_EN and all stakeholders. 1/2
— Glenn Micallef (@GlennMicallef) September 17, 2024
Jozef Síkela, from the Czech Republic, said “the International Partnerships portfolio will allow me to focus on strengthening the EU’s economic security, diversifying our suppliers of critical raw materials, and opening new markets for European companies.”
“My goal was to secure a strong economic portfolio for the Czech Republic, and given that International Partnerships holds a significant budget and one of the largest Directorates-General within the European Commission, I am confident that I will be able to ensure its substantial impact within the future European Commission,” he said.
As a European Commissioner with the aim of contributing as much as possible to Europe’s economic development. The International Partnerships portfolio will allow me to focus on strengthening the EU’s economic security, diversifying our suppliers of critical raw materials, and…
— Jozef Síkela (@JozefSikela) September 17, 2024
Jessika Roswall said: “Honored to get the portfolio for environment, water resilience & a competitive circular economy, key to EU competitiveness and the shift from fossil fuels. Thank you von der Leyen ! Look forward to the intense work ahead.”
Honored to get the portfolio for environment, water resilience & a competitive circular economy, key to EU competitiveness and the shift from fossil fuels. Thank you @vonderleyen! Look forward to the intense work ahead.
— Jessika Roswall (@JessikaRoswall) September 17, 2024
“To tackle climate change and enhance our economy, it is essential to bring the two closer together,” Wopke Hoekstra said.
Honoured and humbled to become the Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth.
To tackle climate change and enhance our economy, it is essential to bring the two closer together.
— Wopke Hoekstra (@WBHoekstra) September 17, 2024
Magnus Brunner, from Austria, was nominated for the role of internal affairs and migration.
‘Parliamentary scrutiny will not cut corners’, Metsola says
The European parliament president, Roberta Metsola, has said that today’s discussion with Ursula von der Leyen “paves the way for Parliament to vet candidates as efficiently as possible.”
“Parliamentary scrutiny will not cut corners,” she said.
In a press conference, Ursula von der Leyen said she managed to increase the number of women in the lineup compared to member states’ original proposals, noting that she chose to nominate women for four out of the six executive vice president roles.