The new team that will run the EU with von der Leyen for the next 5 years has failed to meet expectations.
BRUSSELS (AA) – SELEN VALENTE/ATA UFUK SEKER– The new Commission members, who will manage the EU for the next 5 years with a focus on competitiveness, climate change and defense, announced by the President of the European Union (EU) Commission Ursula von der Leyen, were mostly unknown names, their portfolios were intertwined and abstract, and the number of female members was not at the desired level.
Following the European Parliament (EP) elections held on 6-9 June, von der Leyen, who was once again elected President of the EU Commission, formed her new team from among the names suggested by the member states.
The new names to serve in the Commission, the EU’s most influential institution and executive body, for the next five years were determined after a difficult process.
EU countries, each represented by one member on the Commission, have struggled to keep to the timetable for proposing new names to take on similar roles to ministers in national governments in making EU policies.
While almost all member states want to gain more important portfolios such as trade, competitiveness, energy and the single market, von der Leyen’s demand for a “female member” has made things even more difficult.
The new EU Commission, which was announced during the EP General Assembly held in Strasbourg yesterday after delays, has many striking features.
– “Not the last team”
EU Law and Policies Professor Alberto Alemanno made evaluations about the new EU Commission to AA correspondent.
Alemanno pointed out that the Commission, led and dominated by von der Leyen, was made up mostly of unknown national politicians and men with limited experience.
Alemanno, who noted that the new names included politicians from the European People’s Party (EPP), to which von der Leyen belongs, and from the right and far right to “imitate” the structure of the EP, said: “Overlapping and blurred portfolios such as the Mediterranean, climate and democracy are a recipe for internal tensions designed to strengthen the vice presidents.”
Alemanno noted that he did not expect the names to receive AP approval in their current form, so this was not the “final team.”
– Von der Leyen’s new aides
There are 6 Senior Vice Presidents in the new organization.
Deputy Prime Minister Teresa Ribera from Spain became the member responsible for Clean, Fair and Competitive Transformation.
The competition file is among the most critical files of the EU Commission. Investigations and fines, especially against large companies and digital platforms, make this portfolio important.
Stephane Sejourne from France was appointed as the member responsible for Welfare and Industrial Strategy.
French Commission member Thierry Breton, who had previously criticized von der Leyen’s administration and selection process and had also been in the news for his arguments with Elon Musk, resigned on September 16 after learning that he would not be taking part in this Commission.
Kaja Kallas from Estonia was announced as Vice President for Foreign Affairs and Security, as expected.
Kallas was proposed by leaders for the position of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy at the EU Summit held on June 27-28, for which reason he resigned from his post as Prime Minister of Estonia on July 15.
Henna Virkunen, EPP MEP from Finland, has been appointed Vice President responsible for Technological Independence, Security and Democracy.
It is noteworthy that the security title, which falls within the High Representative’s area of responsibility, was given to two vice presidents for the first time.
It was announced that Italy’s Minister of Europe, Raffaele Fitto, will be responsible for Cohesion and Reforms.
Italy’s name was also mentioned for an important portfolio in the economy. The possibility of this candidate, proposed by far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, gaining a top position had drawn the ire of other political parties.
It was noteworthy that this file was given to Fitto, who comes from a party that follows policies against harmony and reform.
Roxana Minzatu from Romania becomes Vice President for People, Skills and Readiness.
– The expansion file was given to the Slovenian member
Von der Leyen announced that she has replaced Hungarian member Oliver Varhelyi with Marta Kos from Slovenia.
Von der Leyen said that Kos, a senior diplomat who previously represented her country as ambassador in Switzerland and Germany, will also be responsible for the eastern neighbourhood, and that she will work particularly hard to support Ukraine in preparing for membership.
Varhelyi found a place in the new Commission as the member responsible for Health and Animal Welfare.
– For the first time, a member responsible for the Mediterranean was appointed
Von der Leyen announced that for the first time in the new Commission, there will be a member responsible for the Mediterranean region.
Noting that Dubravka Suica, who has been serving as Senior Vice President responsible for democracy and demography in the current Commission since 2019, has been appointed to this position, von der Leyen stated that she will also deal with the neighbourhood in the south of the Union.
It was known that the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCASC) had requested the Mediterranean file to be newly established by the EU Commission. Some members were expressing concern that it would not be fair to give it to the Greeks.
Costas Kadis, who was previously a minister in the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus, was appointed as the member responsible for Fisheries and Oceans.
– A member of the Commission responsible for Defense was also appointed
Andrius Kubilius, an EPP MEP who was also the former prime minister of Lithuania, took on the first-ever portfolio of defence and space.
The creation of this portfolio was requested by the Baltic and Eastern European countries that had gained independence from the Soviets.
– First commission member responsible for housing appointed
Dan Jorgensen, Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy from Denmark, has been appointed as the member responsible for energy and housing in the new Commission.
There have been problems in the housing and real estate markets in Europe recently. The difficulty in finding affordable housing and the need to upgrade the energy classes of existing homes are placing special emphasis on this issue.
– Re-elected
Maros Sefkovic, who has been a member of the EU Commission from Slovakia since 2009, will be responsible for trade and economic security in the new term.
Valdis Dombrovskis from Latvia, who has served on the Commission since 2014, was given the economics and productivity dossier.
Wopke Hoekstra, the member responsible for climate action in the current Commission, took over the file of Frans Timmermans, who left his post due to his candidacy for Prime Minister in the Dutch general elections, and took on the Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth portfolio in the new term.
– New names
Christophe Hansen, an EPP MEP from Luxembourg, has recently taken on an important portfolio for the EU as Commissioner for Agriculture and Food.
Although agriculture is among the most important topics for the EU, the practices in this area are not enough to satisfy farmers. Recently, farmers have been organizing intense protests across the EU. It was noteworthy that this portfolio was given to Luxembourg, one of the smallest agricultural producers in the EU.
Hansen had previously emphasized in his statements to the press that he came from a farming family.
The Czech Minister of Industry and Trade, Jozef Sikela, will serve as the member responsible for International Partnerships. This portfolio will include the EU’s Global Gateway investment programme.
Sikela’s name was specifically mentioned as the energy portfolio. During the Czech Republic’s EU presidency, there was an energy crisis in Europe. During this period, Sikela chaired numerous energy ministerial meetings and contributed to concrete steps being taken in this area. It was noteworthy that the portfolio given did not meet Sikela’s area of expertise.
Maria Luis Albuquerque, member of the National Council of the Social Democratic Party from Portugal, became member responsible for Financial Services, Savings and Investments.
Albuquerque, who previously served as finance minister in his country, was a board member of a Morgan Stanley subsidiary in Europe.
Hadja Lahbib, Minister of Foreign Affairs from Belgium, became the member responsible for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality.
Belgian politician Didier Reynders, who previously served as EU Commissioner responsible for justice, wanted to run again. However, Belgium chose Foreign Minister Lahbib, of Algerian origin, who took on active duties during the EU Presidency between January and July and gained experience in EU politics.
Austrian Finance Minister Magnus Brunner was given responsibility for the Internal Affairs and Migration file.
Austria, known for its strict stance on immigration, has drawn attention to this issue. Brunner made headlines in January when his driver’s license was confiscated for four weeks for speeding.
Jessika Roswall, EU Minister from Sweden, has been appointed as the member responsible for the Environment, Water Resilience and Competitive Circular Economy. Unlike the current one, in the previous Commission Sweden was given the critical portfolio of immigration and home affairs, and Ylva Johansson actively led the task, focusing on the migration crisis and the fight against organised crime.
Ekaterina Zaharieva, a former deputy prime minister from Bulgaria and member of the EPP who has held various ministries and is currently a member of parliament in her country, was given the responsibility for Start-up, Research and Innovation.
Bulgaria was the only member state to comply with von der Leyen’s request for a female candidate.
Governor Apostolos Tzitzikostas from Greece took on the Sustainable Transport and Tourism portfolio. Previously, he was the governor of the Central Macedonia Region, serving as the chairman of the European Committee of the Regions.
From Malta, Advisor to the Prime Minister, Glenn Micallef, took on the title of Intergenerational Justice, Youth, Culture and Sport.
Micallef, 35, who has been the private secretary of his country’s prime minister for four years, became the youngest member of the Commission.
Piotr Serafin, Ambassador of Poland to the EU, was elected as the member responsible for Budget, Public Administration and Fight Against Corruption.
Until the Donald Tusk administration, Poland could not benefit from the EU budget for many years due to conflicts with the EU administration on the rule of law. With the Tusk period, which shares the same political line as von der Leyen, the EU released Poland’s frozen funds. Another noteworthy development was the provision of the country’s budget and corruption file in the new period.
Ireland’s Finance Minister Michael McGrath has been appointed as a member of the Commission for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law.
McGrath will work on member states’ compliance with EU law, data protection regulations and anti-corruption efforts.
Ireland stands out among EU countries as having the most sensible and consistent policy on Palestine.
– The portfolio responsible for Employment and Social Rights was abolished
The absence of a portfolio responsible for Employment and Social Rights in the commission was striking.
Marc Botenga, a Belgian MEP from the Left Group, drew attention to the fact that there were two vice presidents responsible for security in a social media post, saying: “Forget Social Europe. Austerity for the workers, full profit for the war shareholders.”
– Von der Leyen failed to achieve “gender balance”
Despite von der Leyen’s request that four of her six vice presidents be women, only 11 women will serve on the new Commission.
Women will be represented at 40 percent in the Commission.
– He is expected to take office by the end of the year
In order for the new Commission to take office, each member must attend the sessions of the relevant committees of the EP and explain their programs, and then the entire Commission must receive a vote of confidence in the EP General Assembly.
This process is expected to be completed by the end of the year.