As the European Union gears up for its next round of commissioner appointments, President Ursula von der Leyen holds all the cards. The stakes are high, with coveted portfolios like competition, industrial policy, trade, and enlargement up for grabs. On the other hand, less glamorous roles focusing on multilingualism, demography, and foresight are not in high demand.
Von der Leyen is not only responsible for assigning portfolios but also for creating new ones. This time around, she is eyeing a defense commissioner role, along with areas such as housing, fisheries, and promoting intergenerational fairness.
In her quest for a top-notch team, von der Leyen is looking for seasoned politicians with a drive to make a difference. She is not interested in mere political appointees or individuals pushed into roles by national governments. Additionally, she aims to streamline the Commission’s structure by reducing the layers of leadership.
While von der Leyen hopes to assemble a star-studded team, competition for prime portfolios is intense. As one EU diplomat wryly remarked, “Good luck to the 13th floor,” alluding to the challenges of balancing the desires of heavy-hitters vying for key positions.
In the unpredictable world of EU politics, the unexpected can quickly become a reality. Just look at the impact that Cypriot health commissioner Stella Kyriakides and Estonian energy commissioner Kadri Simson had due to unforeseen crises. Von der Leyen is determined to hit the ground running with a top-tier team right from the start.
