The negotiations have been concluded: The future EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has put together her dream team for the next five years. In Brussels, she announced who should be responsible for which area of responsibility.
Her central political projects are placed by the Leyen in the hands of their vice-presidents:
- The Social Democrat Frans Timmermans should be responsible for climate protection,
- the Liberal Margrethe Vestager for Digital
- and the Christian Democrat Valdis Dombrovskis for economics and social affairs.
Von der Leyen spoke of a "very balanced team that will bring together the different skills and talents." She proposed a quorum of 13 women - including the boss herself - and 14 men. For the first time, almost half of the commission would be filled with women. Still, there are wobbly candidates.
Reservations against some candidates
In the coming weeks, all nominees will be heard in the competent committees of the European Parliament. Individuals could still be exchanged. Reservations among parliamentarians are mainly against the nominees from Hungary, Poland and Romania.
Former Justice Minister Laszlo Trocsanyi, who has been nominated for Hungary, is under criticism for supporting a controversial and now stalled judicial reform. Against the Polish candidate Janusz Wojciechowski determined the European anti-fraud authority Olaf because of possibly wrong travel settlements. Romanian-nominated Rovana Plumb faces charges of abuse of office.
Even against the French candidate Sylvie Goulard in the home still under investigation for allegations of fictitious employment in the European Parliament, they had tasted in 2017, the Office of the French Minister of Defense. The EU anti-fraud authority Olaf is also reviewing the events. The European Parliament administration has meanwhile closed the file.
The EU Commission with more than 30,000 employees proposes laws for the community of states and monitors their compliance. The new commission will start its work on 1 November.