Von der Leyenâs new EU executive team faces challenges including wars in Gaza and Ukraine, migration, climate change, and economic competitiveness.
President Ursula von der Leyen has presented a long-awaited list of nominees to make up the next European Commission.
After long-winded, and often bad-tempered, negotiations with member states, von der Leyen presented her selections on Tuesday. The new European Union executive will lead the bloc for the next five years as it faces challenges including the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, migration, climate change, and economic competitiveness.
The appointees, over many of which there has been significant debate, must be confirmed by the European Parliament in a process that could extend to late October.
The âcore prioritiesâ of the new team were built around âprosperity, security, and democracyâ, the president told reporters in Strasbourg.
âThis happens against a backdrop of competitiveness that we need for the twin transition: the decarbonisation and digitalisation of our economies,â she said.
While climate change remained a key topic, von der Leyen said, security and competitiveness âhave much more impact on the composition and the designâ of her new team compared with her first term.
Russian neighbours
With a focus on the security challenges posed by Russia, Estoniaâs Kaja Kallas was given the nod to take charge of foreign policy.
Another experienced Baltic official, Lithuaniaâs Andrius Kubilius, was presented as the EUâs first defence commissioner. In the new role, he will be charged with building up Europeâs military manufacturing capacity as Brussels struggles to keep up with pledges to arm Ukraine.
The nominee from another Russian neighbour, Finland, was also handed a weighty portfolio. Henna Virkkunen will take on an umbrella role, including security and technology.
That will likely see cooperation with Spainâs Teresa Ribera, who will be the blocâs next antitrust chief. The EU has led in seeking to police the power of big tech and other operators of social media.
One of her biggest challenges will be to ensure that Amazon, Apple, Alphabetâs Google, Microsoft and Meta comply with landmark rules aimed at reining in their power and giving consumers more choices. Apple, Google and Meta are firmly in outgoing EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestagerâs crosshairs for falling short of complying with the Digital Markets Act.
Franceâs Stephane Sejourne will be a leading figure in seeking to boost European competitiveness as he oversees industrial strategy. A recent report insisted that Europe must embark on a massive investment drive if its economy is to keep pace with the United States and China. Slovakiaâs Maros Sefcovic will oversee trade policy.
Among six commission vice presidents is Italyâs Raffaele Fitto, who was handed the cohesion and reforms brief.
The prospect of giving a top role to a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloniâs post-fascist Brothers of Italy party has raised hackles among centrist and left-wing groups. However, the appointment is a nod to gains made by far-right parties in Juneâs EU elections.
Meloni said Fittoâs appointment as a vice president âconfirms the newfound central role of our nation in the EUâ.
Opposition has also been rife over von der Leyenâs demand that member states present at least one female nominee.
She noted that 11, or 40 percent, of the proposed commissioners, are women.
âWhen I received the first set of nominations and candidates, we were on track for around 22 percent women and 78 percent men. That was unacceptable,â von der Leyen said.
Send a message
Each new commissioner will need to pass a hearing in the European Parliament, expected in the coming weeks. EU lawmakers will attempt to extract promises from the nominees on what they will deliver if they get the job.
The parliamentâs right to block appointees leaves Hungaryâs Oliver Varhelyi exposed to likely pressure during his hearing.
The nominee of Prime Minister Viktor Orban was handed a diminished role in the new lineup with the health and animal welfare portfolio, but MEPs may still seek to send a message to Budapestâs illiberal leader.
All commissioners will report to von der Leyen, who this summer was handed a second term as EU chief executive by member states after her political camp won the most votes in EU elections.