Deal between factions: Controversial personnel for the new EU Commission

Despite vehement criticism from the EU Parliament, the future European Commission is likely to include several political 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 personal details in Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s team. This also includes the newly created post of defense commissioner, which will be held by a former head of government from Russia’s neighboring state of Lithuania.

After a heated argument, representatives of the responsible parliamentary committees approved the plans late on Wednesday evening in Brussels. A total of 26 EU commissioners will work under von der Leyen’s leadership, one from each member state. The Brussels authority is the only EU institution to propose laws for the community of states 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 particularly during the interviews with the Vice President-elect. In addition to conservatives and social democrats, the liberal Renew faction was also involved in the compromise that was now reached.

Protest against right-wing Italians and Orban loyalists

The nomination of the Italian Raffaele Fitto, who will in future be responsible, among other things, for reforms – including the European Social Fund and a funding pot for regional development, caused a particular stir. Many in Brussels regard the right-winger as politically moderate and pro-European. However, the Social Democrats in Parliament strongly objected to a right-wing politician from the government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni being given a prominent position such as that of Vice President.

In return, the center-right EPP alliance, which also includes the CDU and CSU, initially blocked the appointment of the socialist Teresa Ribera. Conservative and right-wing MPs accuse the current Spanish Environment Minister of failing to deal with the severe flooding in the Valencia region. As a result of the deal between the major political groups, Ribera can now take over the portfolio for competition policy and green change as Commission Vice President.

The Hungarian Oliver Varhelyi, who is criticized for his loyalty to the authoritarian Hungarian Prime Minister Orban, was also controversial. The large parliamentary groups ultimately agreed to transfer parts of his health and animal welfare portfolio to other commissioners – such as those on sexual discrimination and self-determination, according to dpa information. Critics accuse Orban of restricting the rights of women and sexual minorities in Hungary and, among other things, tightening abortion rights.

Key roles for politicians from Baltic states

In the future, particular attention will likely be paid to the Austrian Markus Brunner, who, as Commissioner for Migration, is supposed to implement the controversial asylum reform. Lithuania’s former Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius, in turn, will take on a key issue as the first head of the defense department: Von der Leyen wants to strengthen defense and armaments policy at the EU level in her second term in office, make investments in armaments projects easier and make Europe more militarily independent – especially before the Background to Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

Kubilius is expected to work closely with Estonian Kaja Kallas. She is to become the EU foreign affairs representative and, as the community of states’ chief diplomat, will be responsible for foreign policy in times of war between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East.

How the EU behaves in the event of possible trade conflicts with the USA or China will also depend on the future Commissioner Maros Sefcovic: The Slovakian’s portfolio also includes “economic security” and customs policy. The Polish budget commissioner Piotr Serafin is also likely to play a major role, as tough negotiations on the EU’s multi-year budget are likely to take place in the next two years. And with Dan Jørgensen, the commission will have a housing commissioner for the first time.

The compromise still has to be formally approved in the next few days. The MPs are expected to vote on the entire personnel package in the plenary session in Strasbourg on Wednesday. Since approval is expected, the new EU Commission should be able to start its work on December 1st.