New commissioners of the Old Continent Europe braces for new challenges

The long-awaited announcement by European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen of the new Commissioners for the next five years has been made. While the candidates still need to undergo hearings in the European Parliament, politicians and analysts have already begun weighing in on the list.

Notably, von der Leyen has appointed six Executive Vice-Presidents to oversee the activities of just 20 Commissioners. Many are puzzled by the fact that, in selecting candidates for key positions, gender considerations seemed to outweigh professional expertise and qualifications. This reflects von der Leyen's strong emphasis on achieving significant female representation in the EC's leadership roles.

This has led to some peculiar dynamics in the appointment of Vice-Presidents, with certain figures being appointed to these roles through what appears to be political maneuvering. The emergence of some relatively unknown names among the top positions in the EC suggests a degree of political bargaining. For instance, Romania and Slovenia, which responded to von der Leyen's push for gender representation, have seen notable outcomes. Bucharest, replacing a male candidate with Roxana Mînzatu, will now have its representative in the role of Vice-President for People, Skills and Preparedness.

Similarly, Ljubljana, by swapping a male candidate for Marta Kos, has secured the position of Commissioner for Enlargement. Sofia has gone even further, nominating two women; one of them, Ekaterina Zaharieva, will be responsible for startups, research, and innovation, including oversight of the multi-billion-euro Horizon program. Alongside these women is Henna Virkkunen from Finland, another Vice-President, who will oversee Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy.

Now, let's examine the male appointments. Ursula von der Leyen's handling of the "migration" portfolio is particularly interesting. She has offered this position to Magnus Brunner from Austria, a country that has long expanded its border controls. This move clearly indicates that von der Leyen, aligning with the centrist stance of her own German ruling coalition, is adopting an anti-migrant policy reminiscent of the one championed by the far-right "Alternative for Germany" (AfD). As a result, experts speculate that the EC will begin to propose more stringent migration solutions.

Another noteworthy aspect among the male candidates is the appointment of Raffaele Fitto as another Vice-President of the EC, a position lobbied for by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. However, Fitto will oversee administrative affairs, rather than the portfolio Rome had hoped for. As a member of the right-wing party "Brothers of Italy," like Meloni, Fitto is the first politician from this wing to hold such a significant position. It is somewhat paradoxical that, despite the right's considerable success in the European Parliament elections, they have only secured one major role.

Another significant development is Ursula von der Leyen's apparent slight against Budapest. Oliver Varhelyi, who was Hungary's candidate, has been assigned a relatively minor role as Commissioner for Health and Food Safety. This is a demotion from his previous position as Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Policy. This decision reflects von der Leyen’s ongoing disagreement with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose independent stance on various issues she opposes.

Additionally, this term will introduce a new defense commission within the EC, led by Andrius Kubilius from Lithuania, who is a special rapporteur on Russia for the European Parliament.

Overall, while the key highlights of von der Leyen's appointments have been covered, it's also worth noting that, despite claims of promoting ethnic diversity within the EC, the only significant deviation from its usual homogeneity is Hadja Lahbib from Belgium. Born to Algerian immigrant parents, Lahbib will oversee substantial funds allocated for managing crises caused by natural disasters and will also address LGBTQ+ rights, a key issue for many Europeans.

Thus, based on Ursula von der Leyen's appointments, the European Commission will largely be led by a triumvirate consisting of the European People's Party, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, and the Renew Europe group. However, it remains to be seen how effectively they can steer the European Commission through calm waters without encountering storms. Most analysts anticipate significant challenges for von der Leyen, particularly on critical issues. Additionally, the strengthening of right-wing parties in Europe and recent moves by Germany’s ruling coalition to advance their election agenda suggest that the trio now leading the EC may face considerable obstacles.

As for the European Parliament's vetting of the EC candidates, various sources indicate that the hearings could start on November 1. Regardless of the exact timing, many candidates will undergo intense scrutiny. Consequently, Europe is watching closely to see how these forthcoming challenges will unfold.