Leadership, Gender Balance, and Strategic Portfolios of the new Commissioners designate of Von der Leyens 2024-2029 team.
After navigating the final negotiations with EU member states, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented her new team of Commissioners in Strasbourg, marking the start of her second term. Her center-right European People’s Party (EPP) holds the majority of positions, securing 15 out of the 27 seats, including von der Leyen herself. This distribution reflects the EPP’s strong influence in the Commission, but the new team is diverse in its political representation and responsibilities.
Gender Parity and Appointments
The Commissioners-designate are nominated by each EU member state, and von der Leyen assigns them their roles within the Commission. Despite efforts to achieve gender parity, the current balance is 60-40 in favor of men. Without von der Leyen’s strategic moves—offering more influential portfolios in exchange for female candidates—the gender gap would have been even wider.
Several key appointments showcase the geographical and political diversity of this new Commission. The Baltic states, for example, will lead all foreign and defense-related portfolios, sending a strong signal to Russia. In addition to her native Germany, von der Leyen has brought representatives from three of the EU’s largest member states—France, Italy, and Spain—into her inner circle, giving each an executive vice-presidency. Other countries like Finland, Romania, and Estonia also secured these top roles. These executive vice-presidents will coordinate the portfolios of fellow commissioners.
Key Portfolios and Commissioners
The new Commission has a strong focus on economics, with many members holding fiscally conservative views. Each Commissioner will manage at least one Directorate-General, a key branch of the executive’s administrative structure. Here are some of the prominent appointments:
- Teresa Ribera Rodríguez (Spain, S&D) – As the executive vice-president for Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition, Ribera will oversee key elements of the European Green Deal. She inherits the antitrust and state-aid portfolio from Margrethe Vestager, one of the most coveted positions in the Commission.
- Henna Virkkunen (Finland, EPP) – Serving as the Commissioner for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, Virkkunen will lead efforts in cutting-edge technologies such as AI, supercomputing, and genomics. She will also oversee issues related to EU borders and democratic governance.
- Raffaele Fitto (Italy, ECR) – As Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Fitto, a key ally of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, will manage the EU’s regional funds and the Covid recovery plan. This is the first time a conservative from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) has been given such a high-profile role.
- Kaja Kallas (Estonia, Renew Europe) – The former Estonian Prime Minister will be the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, overseeing EU diplomacy in an era of heightened geopolitical tensions.
- Valdis Dombrovskis (Latvia, EPP) – As Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Dombrovskis will manage the bloc’s economic governance and public spending, while also being responsible for bureaucratic simplification.
Political and Economic Direction
This new Commission is heavily focused on economic issues, reflecting the importance of navigating post-pandemic recovery, managing inflation, and addressing fiscal concerns across the EU. Fiscally conservative voices, such as Dombrovskis and Wopke Hoekstra (The Netherlands, EPP), who will lead climate and taxation portfolios, are well-positioned to ensure that economic growth aligns with sustainability goals.
Von der Leyen has also emphasized industrial growth alongside climate priorities, with some commissioners, like Jessika Roswall (Sweden, EPP), tasked with environmental portfolios that aim to balance business interests and sustainability.
Challenges Ahead
The new College of Commissioners must first pass individual financial checks and then face hearings in the European Parliament, where each will be scrutinized by MEPs. These hearings are crucial, as the European Parliament often rejects candidates to assert its authority. In 2019, three Commissioners-designate were vetoed during this process.
Von der Leyen hopes to have her team confirmed by November 1, 2024, ahead of the U.S. presidential election. However, delays are likely, meaning her new Commission might not be fully operational until at least a month later.
Strategic Priorities
In her mission letters, von der Leyen outlined several key priorities for her second mandate. Among these are advancing the European Green Deal, ensuring technological sovereignty, strengthening Europe’s geopolitical role, and managing the EU’s post-pandemic economic recovery. The Commissioners will also have to tackle external challenges, including relations with major powers like the U.S., China, and Russia, while advancing the EU’s enlargement strategy and managing its borders in an era of growing migration pressures.
Conclusion
The 2024 European Commission is poised to address a wide range of challenges, from climate change to economic reform. With a mix of experienced politicians and newcomers, von der Leyen’s team reflects a balance of political forces, regional representation, and gender considerations. The path ahead will require careful navigation of internal EU politics and external geopolitical pressures, but the new Commission is set to play a crucial role in shaping Europe’s future.
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