The new EU Commission led by President Ursula von der Leyen can start work on December 1st. Almost six months after the European elections and tough disputes, the European Parliament in Strasbourg voted for the 26 commissioners.
It is expected that von der Leyen will set different priorities in her second term in office than before. While the climate crisis was one of the driving issues when it took office in 2019, other problems are now likely to come into focus: with the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, Donald Trump taking office in the USA and the simmering trade dispute with China, the EU is facing the The big question is how it can remain competitive and defend itself.
:How the camp battles in the EU Parliament resolved themselves
The compromise is in place, and so is the majority: in December the European Union will have a new executive branch. But the price is significant.
Von der Leyen is signaling these changed priorities by introducing the post of defense commissioner. Lithuania’s former Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius should ensure that Europe becomes more militarily independent and can invest more easily in European armaments projects.
The war in Ukraine is also likely to concern Estonian Kaja Kallas: As the EU’s new chief diplomat, she will have to deal with the fact that Ukraine’s support against the Russian war of aggression is weakening. In other conflicts, such as in the Middle East, the EU can only exert little influence.
In addition to the security policy challenges, it is important to make the EU crisis-proof in competition with China or the USA. The designated EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič inherits a conflict with China: The EU accuses the government of distorting competition through subsidies and decided on extra tariffs on Chinese electric cars last month. China is examining countermeasures that could also affect German car manufacturers.
The fight against unwanted migration also remains a long-running issue. The current Austrian Finance Minister Magnus Brunner will be the new commissioner responsible for implementing the controversial migration pact.
In the European elections in May, Ursula von der Leyen’s center-right EPP alliance received the most votes. The now 66-year-old was then elected by Parliament to her second term as President of the EU Commission in July. In September she presented her dream team.
Three controversial candidates
The nomination of the Italian Raffaele Fitto, who will in future be responsible, among other things, for reforms as well as for the European Social Fund and a funding pot for regional development, caused a particular stir. He will also be one of von der Leyen’s vice presidents. Although the right-wing politician is considered by many in Brussels to be politically moderate and pro-European, he comes from the right-wing government of Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
There was also criticism of the appointment of the socialist Teresa Ribera as Commissioner for Competition Policy and Green Change. Conservative and right-wing MPs accuse the current Spanish Environment Minister of failing to deal with the severe flooding in the Valencia region. Ultimately, however, after long negotiations, the major parliamentary groups reached an agreement so that both Fitto and Ribera can take office.
The Hungarian Olivér Várhelyi, who is criticized for his loyalty to the authoritarian Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán, was also controversial. The large parliamentary groups ultimately agreed to transfer parts of his health and animal welfare portfolio to other commissioners – according to information from the German Press Agency, for example those on sexual discrimination and self-determination.
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