Europe Controversial personnel for new EU Commission
Despite vehement criticism from the EU Parliament, the future European Commission will probably include several politically controversial figures.
In addition to the right-wing Italian politician Raffaele Fitto as the designated Vice-President of the powerful institution, the appointment of a follower of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also met with protest. Nevertheless, the major political groups in the EU Parliament agreed on these and other appointments to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's team. These include the newly created post of Defense Commissioner, which is to be held by a former head of government from Russia's neighboring state of Lithuania.
After a fierce dispute, representatives of the relevant parliamentary committees approved the plans in Brussels late on Wednesday evening. A total of 26 EU Commissioners will work under the leadership of von der Leyen, one from each Member State. The Brussels authority is the only EU institution that proposes laws for the international community and monitors compliance with European law.
In recent weeks, the Commission candidates have been heard by the relevant committees of the European Parliament. There was resistance above all to the questioning of the designated Vice-Presidents. In addition to the Conservatives and Social Democrats, the liberal Renew Group was also involved in the compromise that has now been reached.
Protest against right-wing Italians and Orban loyalists
The nomination of the Italian Raffaele Fitto, who is to be responsible for reforms in future - including the European Social Fund and a funding pot for regional development - caused a particular stir. Many in Brussels regard the right-wing leader as politically moderate and pro-European. However, the Social Democrats in Parliament fiercely resisted the idea of a right-wing politician from the government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni being given a prominent position such as Vice-President.
In turn, the center-right EPP alliance, which also includes the CDU and CSU, initially blocked the appointment of socialist Teresa Ribera. Conservative and right-wing MEPs accuse the current Spanish Environment Minister of failing to deal with the severe flooding in the Valencia region. Thanks to the deal between the large political groups, Ribera can now take over the portfolio for competition policy and green change as Commission Vice-President.
The Hungarian Oliver Varhelyi, who has been criticized for his loyalty to the authoritarian Hungarian Prime Minister Orban, was also controversial. The large political groups ultimately agreed to transfer parts of his health and animal welfare portfolio to other commissioners - according to dpa information, for example those on sexual discrimination and self-determination. Critics accuse Orban of curtailing the rights of women and sexual minorities in Hungary and tightening abortion laws, among other things.
Key roles for politicians from Baltic states
In the future, special attention is also likely to be paid to the Austrian Markus Brunner, who is to implement the controversial asylum reform as Commissioner for Migration. Lithuania's former Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius, on the other hand, will be the first head of the defense department to take on a key issue: Von der Leyen wants to strengthen defense and armaments policy at EU level in her second term of office, facilitate investment in armaments projects and make Europe more militarily independent - especially against the backdrop of Donald Trump's return to the White House.
Kubilius is expected to work closely with Kaja Kallas from Estonia. She is to become the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and, as the international community's chief diplomat, will be responsible for foreign policy in times of war between Russia and Ukraine as well as in the Middle East.
How the EU behaves in potential trade conflicts with the USA or China will probably also depend on the future Commissioner Maros Sefcovic: The Slovakian's portfolio also includes "economic security" and customs policy. Polish Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin is also likely to play a major role, as tough negotiations on the EU's multi-annual budget are expected to take place over the next two years. And with Dan Jørgensen, the Commission will have a Commissioner for Housing for the first time.
What happens now
The compromise still needs to be formally approved in the next few days. MEPs are expected to vote on the entire personnel package in the plenary session in Strasbourg on Wednesday. As approval is expected, the new EU Commission should be able to take up its work on December 1.
SDA
