Von der Leyen II Commission turns right, consolidates relationship between populars and conservatives

From the Strasbourg correspondent – The European executive is moving sharply to the right: Fourteen commissioners from the European People’s Party (EPP); five liberals from Renew Europe (RE); five from the Socialist family (S&D); one from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and one from the Patriots for Europe (PfE). And, for the first time, an executive vice presidency of the European Commission goes to a politician further to the right of the European popular family, with Raffaele Fitto.

This is the college of commissioners for the Ursula von der Leyen-branded European Commission for the 2024–2029 lustre, based on the names the 27 member countries have submitted in the past weeks and that German politicians have screened and accepted. In the coming weeks, the candidates will first be screened by the European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee, which will assess whether any conflicts of interest would prevent them from assuming office. Then, they will have to undergo so-called hearings, an examination by the parliamentary committees responsible for the subjects entrusted to them.

So, the games are not over, as MEPs can “reject” candidates by forcing states to present new personalities. But, in the meantime, the current group shows the consolidation of the EPP, which, after already having the two presidents of Parliament and Commission, also cashes in the majority in the European executive (14 out of 27). The vice presidency to Fitto consolidates the relationship with a political family considered sovereignist. This is because nominations of commissioner candidates are made by member states and do not depend directly on the outcome of European elections. After the June round, for example, the debate within the Parliament led to the creation of a majority in support of von der Leyen’s second term at the head of the Commission that ranged from the Ursula majority—PPE, S&D, Renew Europe—and also included most of the Green group while excluding ECR and the other groups. But, for the formation of the executive, the discourse changes and starts with the weight and figures designated by the 27 Capitals.

The 2024-2029 Commission hasn’t mathematically achieved gender parity, as there will be 11 women at the table. Still, in addition to the chairwoman, female representation gets four of the six executive vice presidencies. Spain’s Teresa Ribera (S&D) will be the executive vice president of a clean, fair, and competitive transition. She will also be responsible for competition policy. “She will lead the work to ensure that Europe remains on track to meet the goals set out in the European Green deal. And that we decarbonise and industrialise our economy at the same time,” von der Leyen explained at a press conference.

Finland’s Henna Virkkunen (EPP) will be the executive vice president for technological sovereignty, security, and democracy. “She will also be responsible for the digital and frontier technologies portfolio. I will ask Henna to look at security’s internal and external aspects. But also to strengthen the foundations of our democracy, such as the rule of law, and protect it wherever it is attacked,” she continued.

French Stéphane Séjourné (RE) will be the executive vice president for prosperity and industrial strategy. He will also be responsible for the Industry, SMEs and Single Market portfolio. “He will lead the work to create the conditions for our companies to prosper, from investment and innovation to economic stability, trade, and economic security,” she added.

Estonian Kaja Kallas (RE) will be our High Representative and Vice-President (she was not von der Leyen’s choice; she is by right as head of Union diplomacy). “We live in an era of geostrategic rivalries and instability. Our foreign and security policy must be designed with this reality in mind and must be more aligned with our interests. I know I can count on you to bring all this together and act as a bridge between our internal and external policies. And to ensure that we remain a geopolitical commission,” she continued.

Romanian Roxana Mînzatu (S&D) will be the executive vice president for people, skills, and preparedness. “She will be responsible for skills, education and culture, quality jobs, and social rights—all of these fall under demographics. Roxana will particularly lead a Skills Union and the European Pillar of Social Rights. She will focus on those areas that are crucial to uniting our society,” she illustrated.

Raffaele Fitto (ECR) will be the executive vice president for cohesion and reforms. “He will be responsible for the portfolio dealing with cohesion policy, regional development, and cities. We will rely on his extensive experience to help modernise and strengthen our cohesion, investment, and growth policies,” von der Leyen specified.