Meet the EU’s next Commission

While exploding pagers have dominated the headlines, something else big has happened. We’re talking of course about EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiling her highly-anticipated commissioner line-up. 

First, here’s a primer. The Commission functions a bit like a cabinet, but its members are called commissioners and they aren’t picked by the president. Rather, every EU country nominates one commissioner each and sends them packing to Brussels (we feel obliged to drop the famous Borgen TV line here: “In Brussels no one can hear you scream”).

The president then has the tough job of stewarding testy negotiations among the 27 EU countries to decide which commissioner gets which job: they all want the big ones.

This year’s process has been particularly bumpy. Newly re-elected von der Leyen was hoping to have her team up and running by 1 November (just ahead of the US election) but that’s not working out for a few reasons, including:

• Fear of a dude-heavy gender balance: to avert this, von der Leyen has pushed countries to swap out male nominees for women, which has reportedly led to…
• Political gridlock in Slovenia, where there’s division over the new female nominee as well as von der Leyen’s pressure tactics, plus…
• A sudden mutiny by French commissioner Thierry Breton, who announced his shock resignation a day before von der Leyen presented her team to the public.

So now the final hurdle is to get each commissioner approved by EU lawmakers.

And with that primer, here are five of the most interesting commissioner names: 

1. 🇪🇪 Kaja Kallas – High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy 

There’s no surprise here – Kallas stepped down as Estonian prime minister in July in exchange for the role of the EU’s top diplomat. She’s one of the EU’s most outspoken leaders against Russia, which is likewise not a surprise: Russia borders (and has previously invaded) Estonia, and has even issued a warrant for Kallas’s arrest.

What her appointment means:von der Leyen has given most of Europe’s security portfolios to some of the bloc’s most ardently pro-Ukraine countries, who also happen to border Russia (Estonia, Finland, Lithuania). That sends a signal that, notwithstanding any signs of fatigue, the EU still sees Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an existential issue.

2. 🇪🇸 Teresa Ribera – Executive VP for the Clean, Just and Competitive Transition

This is basically the EU’s competition enforcer. Given the EU is a heavy hitter when it comes to antitrust, this role is often seen as the EU president’s second-in-command.

As for Ribera, her CV has more pages than a Tolstoy novel: she’s been a law professor, civil administrator, and has been on advisory boards for the WEF, the UN and more. She then became Spain’s minister for the ecological transition back in 2018, and has earned a reputation for being a straight shooter.

What her appointment means:You’ll note von der Leyen has given Ribera’s job title a green spin. There’s been a notable EU rebalance towards economic over ecological concerns lately, so these name changes probably help keep progressive voices onside.

3. 🇸🇰 Maroš Šefčovič – Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency

This is basically the EU’s trade minister, and the role goes to Slovakia’s Maroš Šefčovič, who’s seen in Brussels as a safe pair of hands after several stints as an EU commissioner. 

He’s a former career diplomat who served in Zimbabwe, Canada, Israel, and the EU, before making an unsuccessful run for Slovakian president in 2019. 

What his appointment means: His job title (economic security) reflects the world’s changing approach to trade, which is increasingly seen through a security lens. It’s also worth noting that Slovakia has been cultivating warmer ties with China lately, so giving the EU’s trade policy a Slovak face might help smooth things over in Beijing.

4. 🇧🇪 Hadja Lahbib -Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management, Equality

Hadja Lahbib is proof you can have it all: the former journalist, director, TV presenter and current Belgian foreign minister is about to tuck some serious EU experience under her belt.

What her appointment means: von der Leyen isn’t one to let others take the reins during a crisis, so Belgium might be disappointed it didn’t bag a bigger portfolio.

5. 🇱🇺 Christophe Hansen – Commissioner for Agriculture and Food

A Luxembourgian member of the EU’s parliament, Hansen has shown Teflon^TM abilities to avoid scandal. Agriculture also runs in his family: his cousin is the Agriculture minister in Luxembourg (yes, Luxembourg has farms; no, they don’t grow money trees).

What his appointment means: von der Leyen is no political amateur, and you can see that in the way over half her new Commission members (including Hansen) hail from her own party. It also helps explain how such a tiny country got such a key role.

INTRIGUE’S TAKE

Like any new cabinet, this one sends signals to the world about the EU’s priorities for the next five years. Here are two more signals we’re picking up:

• First, two of the largest EU economies (France and Spain) are in Commission roles focused on competitiveness, which really gels with last week’s Draghi’s report: the EU knows it’s losing its edge, and is determined to get it back; and
• Second, von der Leyen has appointed a commissioner from Italy’s ruling hard-right party to a role focused on European cohesion. That suggests a pragmatism in incorporating some right-leaning voices as part of the solution.

All combined, von der Leyen’s line-up signals an EU that sees serious challenges ahead, and it isn’t backing down.

Also worth noting:

• Germany’s nominee is Ursula von der Leyen herself. France’s replacement nominee is Stéphane Séjourné, who takes the important industrial strategy portfolio after serving as French foreign minister.
• EU commissioners have to take an oath before being sworn into office. Outgoing Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager chatted with our friends over at ‘What’s up EU’ about her experience: “We were bussed to Luxembourg, standing in front of 37 judges in their full gear, looking at you. You are taking the oath that the Treaties will guide you. An oath that you will take no instructions and seek no instructions from anyone.”