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Ursula von der Leyen's Conservative EU Commission
2024-09-17 17:55:08
Politics
Europe
Government

Ursula von der Leyen's Conservative EU Commission

Image courtesy of : AFP (NICOLAS TUCAT)

Ursula von der Leyen's new EU Commission features a more conservative and male-dominated lineup. Notable figures include Raffaele Fitto, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, and Olivér Várhelyi, replacing Thierry Breton with Stéphane Séjourné despite his limited experience.

Kaja Kallas of Estonia takes over foreign policy, with Teresa Ribera of Spain handling climate targets alongside Dutchman Wopke Hoekstra. Defense is overseen by Andrius Kubilius, while Dan Jørgensen manages housing, and Dubravka Šuica focuses on the Mediterranean.

Austria's Magnus Brunner faces criticism for his role in asylum and migration policy. Only 11 of the positions are filled by women, drawing criticism for gender imbalance.

Marta Kos of Slovenia replaces Olivér Várhelyi in the enlargement portfolio, focusing on Ukraine's reconstruction and EU accession. Her appointment followed negotiations and faced domestic opposition.

The Commission aims to develop strategies for the Black Sea and Southern Caucasus regions, addressing the bloc's Southern neighbourhood and preparing candidate countries for future EU membership.

Related news on that topic:

Von der Leyen's New EU Commission: Key Appointments and ... Controversies

Ursula von der Leyen has unveiled her new team for the European Commission, comprising 27 members from across the EU. Her selection includes some contentious figures, signaling potential conflicts ahead. Notably, Raffaele Fitto, from the far-right Fratelli d'Italia party, has been appointed as Executive Vice President for Regional Development and Reforms. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from Social Democrats, Greens, and Liberals in the European Parliament. Fitto's role will involve managing substantial EU funds, a responsibility that has raised concerns among his critics. France's President Emmanuel Macron made a last-minute change by nominating Stéphane Séjourné, replacing Thierry Breton. Séjourné will oversee the European single market and industrial policy, while the digital and security portfolio will go to Finland's Henna Virkkunen. Spain’s Teresa Ribera will handle the EU’s climate goals and competition policy, working alongside the conservative Dutchman Wopke Hoekstra. This pairing is expected to spark debates, particularly on nuclear energy. Poland gains influence with Piotr Serafin's appointment as Budget Commissioner, tasked with negotiating the EU's seven-year budget from 2028. Hungary’s Oliver Varhelyi, a close ally of Viktor Orban, continues as Commissioner for EU Enlargement, despite past controversies. A new role has been created for defense, with Lithuania's Andrius Kubilius taking the helm. His responsibilities will include bolstering European defense investments and managing space policy. Virkkunen also takes charge of implementing significant digital laws and enhancing cybersecurity. Estonia's Kaja Kallas, known for her firm stance against Russia, will serve as the EU’s Foreign Affairs Representative. Von der Leyen's team reflects a mixture of continuity and change, aiming to navigate the EU through complex challenges such as supporting Ukraine, strengthening defense, and driving economic competitiveness. The appointments need approval from the European Parliament, where resistance is expected, particularly against the more controversial figures.

Challenges in Forming the New EU Commission

Ursula von der Leyen faces significant challenges in forming her new European Commission team. Controversy surrounds her decision to appoint Italian European Minister Raffaele Fitto as Economic Commissioner and Vice President, facing strong opposition from Liberals, Socialists, and Greens. They criticize rewarding a representative of Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government, which opposed von der Leyen's election. Additionally, French Commissioner Thierry Breton resigned, denouncing von der Leyen's 'questionable governance,' complicating team formation. The struggle for gender parity and Slovenia’s political disputes further delay the process. As debates continue, von der Leyen’s leadership and decision-making face intense scrutiny.

Read 5 more recent news on this topic

The press radar on this topic:

EURACTIV.com
17. September 2024 um 11:53

Slovenia’s Kos takes enlargement file as Ljubljana manoeuvres itself into portfolio upgrade

Politics
Marta Kos, a former Slovenian ambassador, has been designated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to lead the EU's enlargement portfolio, replacing Hungary's Olivér Várhelyi. Kos will focus on supporting Ukraine's reconstruction and accession, as well as preparing candidate countries for EU membership. Her appointment comes after a week of negotiations between Brussels and Ljubljana, where Slovenia's original candidate, Tomaž Vesel, was replaced at von der Leyen's request. Kos..
EURACTIV.de
17. September 2024 um 13:03

EU Enlargement: Key Portfolio for Slovenia in New EU Commission

Politics
Marta Kos, the Slovenian ambassador, was nominated by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for the Enlargement portfolio, after Olivér Várhelyi, the Hungarian Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood, was replaced. Originally, the portfolio "Enlargement and Reconstruction of Ukraine" had been assigned to the Latvian Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis.
taz
17. September 2024 um 15:02

Von der Leyens Wunsch-EU-Kommission: Männlich, konservativ, ambitioniert

Politics
Economy
Ursula von der Leyen's new, more conservative EU Commission includes controversies around Raffaele Fitto, Apostolos Tzitzikostas and Olivér Várhelyi. In addition, the powerful Competition Commissioner Thierry Breton is leaving, but is being replaced by the less experienced Stéphane Séjourné. The Estonian Kaja Kallas is taking over foreign policy, while the Spaniard Teresa Ribera is responsible for climate targets and has to work with the Dutchman Wopke Hoekstra. New commissioners are also in c..
EuroNews
17. September 2024 um 14:30

What's behind Breton's resignation: How did the French Commissioner exhaust the patience of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen?

Politics
Breton, the French Commissioner, resigned after pressure from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Von der Leyen sought to form a gender-balanced Commission and pressured Macron to replace Breton with a larger portfolio for him. Macron agreed and proposed Stéphane Séjourné as a replacement for Breton. Breton had publicly criticized von der Leyen's management style and did not recognize her as president. He also felt resentment throughout his term and criticized von der Leyen's a..
CW

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