European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced her proposed new team of 26 Commissioners on Tuesday in Strasbourg, with Belgium’s Hadja Lahbib in charge of crisis management and humanitarian aid.
Earlier in the day, von der Leyen met with the Conference of Presidents, which reunites leaders of the different political groups in the European Parliament, to present her new team of designated commissioner candidates for the Von Der Leyen European Commission II.
All candidates will now face the scrutiny of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) before being approved. The team selection was based on a combination of her political guidelines and intensive weeks of negotiations with the Member States.
"Together, we have defined core priorities. They are built around prosperity, security, democracy. The backdrop is: competitiveness in the twin transition (decarbonisation and digitalisation), and they are very much intertwined and cross-cutting."
Mario Draghi's warnings appear to have been heeded, with the new Commission aiming to build a competitive, decarbonised and circular economy – with a fair transition for all. Within this, there are also commitments to "supporting people, skills and our social model."
"We have dissipated the former rigid stovepipes," she said in reference to one of the main recommendations of the Draghi report: "The whole college is committed to competitiveness!"
'Right person for the job'
On the Belgian side, Former Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib (Renew Europe) will be the Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, a post responsible for the provision of humanitarian aid. "This is another new portfolio, which will look at resilience, preparedness and civil protection besides humanitarian aid."
Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib pictured during the presentation of the official program of the upcoming Belgian Presidency of the European Union, in Brussels, Friday 08 December 2023. Credit: Belga / Hatim Kaghat
Lahbib will lead the European Commission's efforts on crisis management and humanitarian aid, after having taken a central role in advocating for an end to the violence in Gaza and Ukraine during Belgium's EU presidency this year. She will also be responsible for the topic of equality.
Von der Leyen gave the role to Lahbib as she has "solid experience in foreign affairs", von der Leyen said, which naturally links to crisis management and aid, making her "the right person for the job".
Who is in the new Commission?
On Tuesday, von der Leyen named her six vice presidents candidates: four women and two men. The President outlined how she had aimed to achieve gender balance, but has only managed 40%.
Among the vice presidents, Spain’s Teresa Ribera Rodriguez (S&D) will be the Commissioner for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, also in charge of the competition portfolio. "She will guide the work to ensure that Europe stays on track for its goals set out in the European Green Deal."
In an "era of geo-strategic rivalries and instability", Estonia's Kaja Kallas (Renew Europe) will be the new High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, replacing Josep Borrell and pushing for a "geopolitical commission".
Finland's Henna Virkkunen (EPP) will be the Commissioner for Tech Sovereignty and Security Democracy, which will include digitalisation and development of digital technologies. Her role will also encompass a security and rule of law aspect in the context of protecting EU democracies from external attacks.
Romania's Roxana Minzatu (S&D) will be the Commissioner for People Skills and Preparedness, which is the new name for jobs and social rights. "She will have the responsibility for skills, education and culture, quality jobs and social rights. This is under the umbrella of demography."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presenting her new team, Tuesday 17 September 2024 in Strasbourg, France. Credit : European Union
Following Thierry Breton's dramatic exit on Monday, France's Stephane Séjourné (Renew Europe) will receive Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, including industries, SMEs and market portfolios. "He will guide the work to put in place the conditions for our companies to thrive – from investment and innovation to economic stability and trade and economic security."
Italy's Raffaele Fitto (ECR), a close ally of Giorgia Meloni, will be the Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms. "We will draw on his extensive experience to help modernise and strengthen our cohesion, investment and growth policies." This choice is expected to face intense scrutiny in the European Parliament hearing due to his ties to the far-right.
And the rest
Among the rest of the Von der Leyen Commission II, some notable appointments include Latvia's Valdis Dombrovskis as the Commissioner for the Economy; Slovakia's Maros Sefcovic gets the trade portfolio and inter-institutional relations (including with the UK); Hungary's Oliver Varhelyi, gets health and animal welfare.
The Netherlands' Wopke Hoekstra will regain the Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth portfolio, while Austria's Magnus Brunner gets migration and Luxembourg's Christophe Hansen gets agriculture. Denmark's Dan Jørgensen will be the Commissioner for Energy and Housing.
Although few details were given by von der Leyen on the nature of this role, Croatia's Dubravka Suica will get the new Commissioner for the Mediterranean portfolio.
"The key message is that wherever we come from, whatever our job title: we must all work together. We will have open debates. We will all be independent in thought and action. And we will all take ownership of what is agreed. This is the team that I am putting forward today."
Next, all nominations will be subject to hearings from MEPs in the European Parliament before being confirmed.
The new proposed European Commission (2024-2029)
