According to a document seen by Euronews, Ursula von der Leyen’s European People’s Party will have the most coveted portfolios in the composition of the next EU Commission. The list of names expected for next September 11
According to a document that is circulating among EPP members and which Euronews has been able to access, the portfolios for employment and housing, coveted by center-left socialistscould go respectively to Austrian Commissioner Magnus Brunner and Croatian Commissioner Dubravka Šuica, both from the EPP. Brunner is also the only possible candidate nominated for the Competition portfolio.
Ursula von der Leyen’s next European Commission
Ursula von der Leyenre-elected in July by a broad coalition of MEPs, including those from the EPP, Socialists and Liberals, will need their support when they vote to approve the Commission as a body, allowing it to remain in office for the next five years.
The choice of Pedro Sánchez, Teresa Riberacould have a prominent position as executive vice president for green and digital transition, but other Socialist candidates are expected to get less influential positions.
Maltese Glenn Micallef is in the running for a smaller portfolio, either for equality or fisheries, while Denmark’s Dan Jørgensen could be given a climate change post, separate from his energy or environment responsibilities.
Micallef’s political experience has reportedly been called into question by von der Leyen, who is trying to convince the Maltese government to switch to a female candidate at the last minute. The other Socialist candidate, Romanian Roxana Mînzatucould get a pocketbook, a likely reward for the government’s decision to nominate a woman.
The Liberal Party candidates are also expected to secure the Home Affairs portfolio for Belgian Hadja Lahbib, financial services for Irishman Michael McGrath, and another economic role for Slovenian Tomaž Vesel. As with Malta, however, von der Leyen is reportedly pressuring Ljubljana to propose a female name.
Who could get the three executive vice-presidencies?
The leak confirms previous reports that three executive vice-presidencies will go to France, Italy and Spain. In addition to Ribera, Frenchman Thierry Breton should be responsible for Industry and Strategic Autonomy, while atItalian Raffaele Fitto the vice-presidency of the European Commission with responsibility for the economy and the PNRR would go.
According to the document, Estonian Kaja Kallas has already been nominated by EU leaders for the vice-presidency, while the other two top executive posts should go to current commissioners. Valdis Dombrovskis And Maroš Šefčovič.
The other EPP commissioners are expected to receive most of the key portfolios. Competitiveness will probably go to Finland’s Henna Virkkunen or Sweden’s Jessica Roswall, while trade is likely to go to the Dutchman Wopke Hoekstra.
Lithuanian Andrius Kubilius could take over the security portfolio, strengthening Baltic influence on foreign policy and the anti-Russian stance together with Kallas.
Energy would go to Jozef Síkela, an independent close to the EPP, while agriculture would remain under the control of the European People’s Party, with Luxembourg’s Christophe Hansen or Portugal’s Maria Luisa Albuquerque vying for the role.
The leak hints at a split in the agriculture portfolio, with rural development being given to Greek Commissioner-designate Apostolos Tzitzikostas, who could also be in charge of transport. The leaked document also suggests that the Hungarian prime minister’s choice Viktor Orbanincumbent Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, is likely to be rejected by the European Parliament. Among Orbán’s other names, Fidesz MEP Enikő Győri is said to be a possible replacement, in von der Leyen’s bid to achieve gender parity.
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