International Courant
The EU’s new govt staff will face challenges similar to wars in Gaza and Ukraine, migration, local weather change and financial competitiveness.
President Ursula von der Leyen has introduced a long-awaited checklist of nominees for the following European Fee.
After long-winded and infrequently ill-tempered negotiations with member states, von der Leyen introduced her alternatives on Tuesday. The European Union’s new govt will lead the bloc for the following 5 years because it grapples with challenges together with the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, migration, local weather change and financial competitiveness.
The appointments, which in lots of circumstances have already been the topic of a lot debate, should be confirmed by the European Parliament. This course of might take till the tip of October.
The brand new staff’s “core priorities” had been constructed round “prosperity, safety and democracy,” the president instructed reporters in Strasbourg.
“That is occurring in opposition to the backdrop of the competitiveness we’d like for the twin transition: the decarbonisation and digitalisation of our economies,” she mentioned.
Whereas local weather change stays a key challenge, von der Leyen mentioned safety and competitiveness have “way more impression on the composition and design” of her new staff in comparison with her first time period.
Russian neighbors
As a result of she centered on the safety challenges posed by Russia, Kaja Kallas was tasked by Estonia to take cost of overseas coverage.
One other veteran Baltic official, Lithuanian Andrius Kubilius, was unveiled because the EU’s first defence commissioner. In his new function, he can be tasked with increase Europe’s navy manufacturing capability as Brussels struggles to ship on guarantees to arm Ukraine.
The nominee from one other Russian neighbor, Finland, additionally acquired a heavy portfolio. Henna Virkkunen will tackle an overarching function, together with safety and expertise.
That can possible contain cooperation with Spain’s Teresa Ribera, who would be the bloc’s subsequent antitrust chief. The EU has led the best way in attempting to test the ability of Huge Tech and different social media operators.
One in every of her largest challenges can be guaranteeing that Amazon, Apple, Alphabet’s Google, Microsoft and Meta adjust to historic guidelines geared toward curbing their energy and giving customers extra alternative. Apple, Google and Meta are firmly within the sights of outgoing EU competitors chief Margrethe Vestager for failing to adjust to the Digital Markets Act.
Frenchman Stephane Sejourne can be a number one determine within the drive to spice up Europe’s competitiveness, as he oversees industrial technique. A latest report highlighted that Europe must launch a large funding drive if its financial system is to maintain tempo with the USA and China. Slovakian Maros Sefcovic will oversee commerce coverage.
Among the many six vice-presidents of the fee is the Italian Raffaele Fitto, who was given the cohesion and reform fee brief.
The prospect of giving a prime job to a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s post-fascist Brothers of Italy social gathering has sparked outrage amongst centrist and left-wing teams, however the appointment is a nod to features made by far-right events in EU elections in June.
Meloni mentioned Fitto’s appointment as vp “confirms the brand new central function of our nation within the EU”.
There’s additionally a lot opposition to von der Leyen’s demand that member states nominate no less than one feminine candidate.
She famous that 11, or 40 p.c, of the proposed commissioners are ladies.
“After I obtained the primary set of nominations and candidates, we had been on observe for about 22 p.c ladies and 78 p.c males. That was unacceptable,” von der Leyen mentioned.
Ship a message
Every new commissioner should cross a listening to within the European Parliament, anticipated to happen within the coming weeks. EU lawmakers will attempt to extract guarantees from the nominees about what they are going to ship in the event that they get the job.
Parliament’s proper to dam appointments means Hungarian politician Oliver Varhelyi is prone to come underneath strain throughout his affirmation listening to.
Prime Minister-nominee Viktor Orban was given a smaller function within the new composition with the portfolio of well being and animal welfare. Nonetheless, MEPs should still need to ship a sign to Budapest’s intolerant chief.
All commissioners report back to von der Leyen, who was appointed by member states for a second time period because the EU’s govt this summer season after her political camp received essentially the most votes within the EU elections.
European Fee chief unveils new staff amid mounting challenges | European Union Information
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