What did we learn from Ursula von der Leyen’s lineup?
The new European Commission presented by Ursula von der Leyen is the outcome of extensive negotiations and balancing – and power moves by the commission chief, who will be beginning her second term in office.
The majority of capitals had asked von der Leyen for a strong economic portfolio – a request she said is impossible to fulfil.
Von der Leyen had originally asked capitals which are not nominating someone for a second term to put forward both a male and female candidate – but the majority nominated men.
The commission chief then pressed several capitals to change their nominees, in exchange for getting more high-profile roles.
The lineup presented this morning reflects the influence of the centre-right European People’s party, as well as von der Leyen’s own preferences.
Von der Leyen made a symbolic gesture nominating women for four out of six executive vice-president posts.
And candidates representing the EPP or nominated by EPP governments are taking key portfolios, including economy, migration, defence and budget.
Von der Leyen has also managed to remove an internal critic: on Monday, France’s European commissioner, Thierry Breton, dramatically resigned, writing in an open letter that the commission president had asked Paris to withdraw his name “for personal reasons that in no instance you [von der Leyen] have discussed directly with me”.
France’s new candidate, 39-year old Stéphane Séjourné, was awarded the post of executive vice-president for prosperity and industrial strategy.
Plus, in a gesture to Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, von der Leyen nominated Raffaele Fitto for an executive vice-president job.
Key events
Ashifa Kassam
Ursula von der Leyen’s new lineup of commissioners includes Hadja Lahbib, who is believed to be the first ever EU commissioner with a non-EU background.
Born in Belgium to parents of Algerian origin, Lahbib has been tapped to oversee the portfolio of preparedness, crisis management and equality.
Speaking to Euronews earlier this month, the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) said it welcomed the appointment of Lahbib.
But it cautioned that representation alone was not enough.
“We urge the Commission to enhance its efforts, particularly by implementing stronger participatory mechanisms for racialised communities, ensuring their input is central to policy-making, and addressing the democratic deficit while adhering to equality and anti-racist principals,” said a spokesperson.
Reacting to Ursula von der Leyen’s presentation of her new commission lineup today, Greenpeace EU director Jorgo Riss said “Europe is already the fastest warming continent on the planet, with nature devastated by industrial farming and pollution – the challenge is well-documented, but it’s still unclear if this Commission can pull Europe back from the brink of ecological collapse and protect people’s livelihoods.”
“Despite some impressive sounding job titles for the new commissioners, the EU’s shaky green and social agenda has so far failed communities facing floods, wildfires or job insecurity,” he said, adding:
If competitiveness means lowering social and environmental standards and giving in to big polluters, it will not deliver jobs, nor protect lives and the nature we all depend on. Time will tell if this Commission is capable and willing to work for the social, economic and environmental resilience that will safeguard life and ensure our children’s future.
UK calls on Georgia to ‘reconsider’ legislation curbing LGBT rights
The British embassy in Georgia has issued a statement today after Georgian lawmakers approved a legislative package imposing curbs on LGBT rights.
“The United Kingdom is seriously concerned by the adoption, in the third reading, of the legislative package on ‘family values and protection of minors’ by the Parliament of Georgia,” the statement said.
“This package undermines fundamental human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and assembly and risks further stigmatisation and discrimination of part of the Georgian population. This legislation impacts the rights of all Georgian citizens,” the UK said.
The statement added:
We regret that this legislation has been passed ignoring the advice of the Venice commission to ‘reconsider this legislative proposal entirely and to not proceed with its adoption.’
We call on the Georgian authorities to reconsider the package of laws on ‘family values and protection of minors’ which together with the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence place restrictions on both civil society and individual Georgians and call into question the breadth of the UK Georgia relationship.
The leaders of Germany’s conservatives have agreed to nominate Christian Democrat (CDU) chief Friedrich Merz to run as chancellor in next year’s federal election, the head of Bavaria’s conservatives, Markus Soeder, said on Tuesday.
“The question of the chancellor candidate is decided – Friedrich Merz is doing it,” said Christian Social Union (CSU) leader Soeder at a joint news conference with Merz, adding he had his full backing, Reuters reports.
By standing aside, Soeder cleared the way for Merz, 68, an economic liberal who has driven the party to the right since becoming party chief in 2022 after Angela Merkel’s 16-year hold on the chancellery. In particular, he has called for a tougher line on migration.
The conservative bloc is leading opinion polls, with many surveys putting it ahead of the combined support for the three parties in Social Democrat (SPD) Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition with the Greens and Free Democrats (FDP).
The nomination still requires the conservative parties’ approval but the candidacy is all but sealed as another possible rival, North Rhine-Westphalia premier Hendrik Wuest, said on Monday he would not join the race and backed Merz.
The relatively early decision, a year before the election, is aimed at avoiding a messy dispute and repeating mistakes from the 2021 campaign that cost the conservatives dear. The conservatives scored their worst-ever result in that vote.
Merz may be popular in his party but is less so among the wider electorate. An INSA poll at the weekend indicated only 25% of voters would pick Merz for chancellor in a direct vote, compared with 21% for Scholz, while 48% would not choose either.
“We will go into the election year together, with the firm intention of retaking responsibility for our country,” said Merz. “With policies that will push Germany forward, make the country function again and perhaps also make us proud of our country, of Germany, again,” he said, naming migration and economic policies as two priorities.
An election in the eastern state of Brandenburg on Sunday will be an early test for Merz’s CDU, which is in third place in most polls behind the SPD and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which leads.
A lawyer from western Germany, Merz was a senior legislator in the early 2000s before quitting after losing out in a power struggle with Merkel. He went to pursue a lucrative career with asset manager BlackRock before returning to the German parliament in 2021.
Turkey and Sweden to meet to discuss security pact agreed to ensure approval of Sweden’s Nato membership bid, reports say
Turkey and Sweden will hold their first meeting on Wednesday addressing a security pact the sides agreed to ensure Ankara’s approval of Stockholm’s Nato membership bid, a Turkish diplomatic source said on Tuesday.
The meeting will take place during a visit to Ankara by Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, and it carried “special importance” in terms of improving cooperation on terrorism, the source said.
Turkey approved Sweden’s bid to join the military alliance in January after a more than year-long delay over concerns about Sweden’s stance on groups and individuals it deems terrorists, and over an arms embargo that Stockholm later lifted.
As part of the approval, Ankara demanded that Stockholm amend anti-terrorism laws and crack down on members of the Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) – also labelled a terrorist group by the United States and European Union – as well as a group it accuses of orchestrating a 2016 failed putsch.
The formation of the “Security Compact” was agreed by Nato’s then-chief Jens Stoltenberg and Turkish and Swedish leaders at an alliance summit in 2023. The parties had also agreed that Stockholm would present a “roadmap” on counter-terrorism.
Sweden joined Nato in March.
“Cooperation in the field of security, especially the fight against terrorism, will be discussed within the framework of the road map,” the source said, adding that the talks aimed to pave the way for additional steps on the PKK and its Syrian offshoots, as well others.
Turkey’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, and Stenergard will also discuss bilateral ties during the meetings, the source added.
The Socialist and Democrats group leader Iratxe García said that for the next European Commission mandate, her grouping will work to change the rules to make it obligatory for capitals to nominate a man and a woman for commission posts.
The Commission’s gender balance has improved thanks to us, the social democrats, from 22% to 40% women with substantial portfolios, says @IratxeGarper.
For the next mandate, we will work to change the rules to make obligatory for member states to nominate a man and a woman as… pic.twitter.com/HTROT4jiUV
— S&D Group (@TheProgressives) September 17, 2024
“Spain has achieved the highest level of influence it has ever had in Brussels, and the EU has gained an exceptional leader,” Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish prime minister, said after Ursula von der Leyen nominated Teresa Ribera for the post of executive vice president for clean, just and competitive transition.
Enhorabuena, querida @Teresaribera, por tu designación como primera vicepresidenta ejecutiva de la Comisión Europea, encargada de impulsar una doble transición que sea limpia, justa y competitiva.
Es una magnífica noticia para Europa y un orgullo para nuestro país.
Tu…
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) September 17, 2024
‘We shape Europe’: EPP takes 14 posts in new commission lineup
The centre-right European People’s party leader, Manfred Weber, celebrated his party family getting 14 posts.
Congratulations to our 14 EPP Commissioner-designate candidates— a big family bringing Europe together.
We shape Europe 🇪🇺. https://t.co/igbQg2C5wD
— Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) September 17, 2024
‘We will not give Raffaele Fitto an easy ride’, Greens say
Terry Reintke, president of the Greens group in the European Parliament, raised concerns about gender equality and the nomination of Italy’s Raffaele Fitto for a senior post.
We are concerned about the Member States failing to live up to their promises and reach gender equality. The fact that a candidate from a far-right government is nominated as Vice-President of the European Commission remains a big concern for our Group.
Appointing Raffaele Fitto could create a dangerous shift towards the far-right in the Commission and endanger the pro-democratic majority in the European Parliament that voted for Ursula von der Leyen in July. All Commissioner-designates will now face hearings by the members of the European Parliament.
The Greens/EFA Group will take this role seriously and thoroughly assess all the Commissioner-designates. We will not give Raffaele Fitto an easy ride.
The European Conservatives and Reformists party welcomed the selection of Italy’s Raffaele Fitto for a senior role in the new European commission.
Congratulations to @RaffaeleFitto on his appointment as Executive Vice President of the European Commission, with the crucial portfolio of Cohesion and Reform. His strong conservative leadership will be instrumental in shaping Europe’s growth and unity. Well deserved! #ECRParty pic.twitter.com/HfjLP5Zwsz
— ECR Party (@ECRparty) September 17, 2024
Von der Leyen’s choice for the new defence portfolio, Andrius Kubilius, is a member of the European parliament and a former prime minister of Lithuania.
Longtime commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said: “Thank you, EU Commission President von der Leyen, for your continued trust.”
“Truly honoured to be entrusted with trade and economic security as well as with interinstitutional relations and transparency. Crucial for the EU’s standing both at home and internationally.”
Thank you, @EU_Commission President @vonderleyen, for your continued trust. Truly honoured to be entrusted with trade and economic security as well as with interinstitutional relations and transparency. Crucial for the EU’s standing both at home and internationally.
— Maroš Šefčovič🇪🇺 (@MarosSefcovic) September 17, 2024
The Left group’s Manon Aubry has criticised the new European Commission lineup, arguing that in substance it would be the most right-wing in history.
🔴 A la conférence exceptionnelle des Présidents de groupe, @vonderleyen donne moins d’infos aux élus qu’à la presse, illustration du mépris pour notre parlement.
Sur le fond, sa nouvelle Commission sera la plus à droite de l’histoire avec pour la 1ère fois un vice-président…
— Manon Aubry (@ManonAubryFr) September 17, 2024
Finland’s prime minister Petteri Orpo – whose candidate Henna Virkkunen was nominated for an executive vice president post – said he is very satisfied with the choice.
Suomen komissaariehdokas @HennaVirkkunen saa painavan salkun. Hänestä tulee komission 2. varapuheenjohtaja, vastuullaan teknologia ja digitalisaatio, laaja turvallisuus sekä demokratia sisältäen oikeusvaltion puolustamisen. Olemme erittäin tyytyväisiä, onnea Henna! 🇫🇮🇪🇺
— Petteri Orpo (@PetteriOrpo) September 17, 2024
