EU Appointments, von der Leyen Accelerates on Team, Fitto in Pole for Italy –

A short break, time to enjoy the reconfirmation with full marks and then Ursula von der Leyen will begin to evaluate the proposals of the member states on the commissioners for the new EU Executive. With a video on Instagram, the German leader made it known that she will take a few days to rest and see her family following the tour de force that has seen her busy from the European elections on 9 June, through the nomination by the European Council on 27 June to the reconfirmation by the European Parliament on Thursday. “In the coming weeks, I will ask the leaders to present their candidates. I will write a letter and ask for the proposal of a man and a woman as candidates. The only exception is when there is a Commissioner in office who remains”, explained the president, illustrating the path: “I will interview the candidates starting from mid-August and I want to choose the most prepared ones who share the European commitment”. The German leader wants to replicate the model of five years ago: that is, guaranteeing an equal distribution between men and women, a choice that has caused some discontent among the capitals. Then the names chosen will have to pass the test of the hearings of the competent committee of the European Parliament. A practice not written in the Treaty but foreseen in the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament, which includes among the criteria that of taking into account, when evaluating future commissioners, their knowledge of the future portfolio and their communication skills, as well as gender balance. An evaluation that allows the European Parliament to express its opinion on individuals before the overall vote of confidence on the entire Commission, including the High Representative for Foreign Policy. The mandate of the current Commission expires on 31 October, but can be extended if the new team is not ready by that date. Five years ago, the von der Leyen Commission took office on 1 December. It must also be said that the composition of the Commission does not reflect the political balance of the European Parliament, but rather the political balance existing between national governments. The next Executive will have at least thirteen EPP commissioners, more than half, and four Socialists if the centre-right government of Luxembourg wants to confirm the Socialist Nicolas Schmit to compensate for the renunciation of a Green exponent that would have been due to the Scholz government to allow the election of von der Leyen.

There will be five or six liberal commissioners, while the ECR conservatives will have two (Italy and the Czech Republic). In addition to Germany, which will hold the presidency of the Commission, and Estonia, whose outgoing prime minister, Kaja Kallas, will become the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, at the moment there are the following indications: Slovakia has nominated the outgoing vice-president, the socialist Maros Sefcovic, Latvia the outgoing vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis (EPP), Slovenia the economist Tomaz Vesel, Ireland the former finance minister, Michael McGrath, Sweden the minister for European affairs, Jessika Roswall, and Finland the popular MEP Henna Virkkunen. In France, despite the unknown of the new government, President Emmanuel Macron should reappoint Thierry Breton, now at the Internal Market. In Spain, the Minister for Ecological Transition and Deputy Prime Minister Teresa Ribera remains in pole position, aiming for a portfolio linked to the Green Deal, which should be divided among several people according to the wishes of the EPP. Speaking of the Popular Party, a big shot like the former chief spokesperson of the Commission and one of the vice-presidents of the current Executive, the Greek Margaritis Schinas, should leave the scene. For Italy, the government is still considering the name to propose. The two deputy prime ministers are pushing for the current Minister for European Affairs, Cohesion Policies and the PNRR Raffaele Fitto: “Even if he is not from my party, Fitto is the best possible commissioner, because he knows the dynamics of Brussels well”, says Antonio Tajani. “He is an excellent minister, he would certainly be an excellent commissioner”, comments Matteo Salvini.