Stayed, Fitto, Ribera… Ursula von der Leyen announces the composition of the new European Commission

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled her new team of commissioners and their portfolios in Strasbourg on Tuesday 17 September, after weeks of political battles. The allocation of the portfolios of the 27 commissioners (one per Member State) is a key moment to launch the five-year mandate of this new Commission, the European executive.

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The new team will include eleven women, a proportion of 40%. Ursula von der Leyen, who wanted parity in this team of 27 commissioners, explained that the initial proposals from the member states gave a share of 22% of women. “It was completely unacceptable”she stressed, while acknowledging that, despite the progress made in the final stretch, there was “still a lot of work to do”.

• Stéphane Séjourné inherits a key portfolio in industry

French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné, a close friend of Emmanuel Macron, will take over a key portfolio for industrial strategy in the new European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen has announced. The new commissioner, chosen at the last minute to the detriment of outgoing Thierry Breton, will be responsible for the recovery of European industry, a major priority for the coming years. He will inherit the title of executive vice-president.

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” He will guide the work to create the conditions for our businesses to thrive, for investment and innovation, and for economic stability, trade and economic security. “, declared the President of the European Commission. Stéphane Séjourné will also be responsible for SMEs and the single market, she specified.

• Lithuanian Andrius Kubilius appointed Defence Commissioner

Lithuanian Andrius Kubilius has been appointed European Commissioner for Defence and Space, a new position created by Ursula von der Leyen, in the face of the Russian threat and the war in Ukraine.

A former two-time prime minister, credited with his country’s economic recovery during the 2008 financial crisis, he will have to strengthen defence in Europe, a priority of the new Commission. But the extent of his responsibilities and the means at his disposal have yet to be specified.

• The Spanish Teresa Ribera on the ecological transition

Spain’s Ecology Minister Teresa Ribera has been given a broad portfolio dedicated to ecological transition “clean, fair and competitive” in the new European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen announced. The 55-year-old socialist, close to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, will be executive vice-president in the new team, the German leader specified.

• Italian Raffaele Fitto obtains vice-presidency

Italian Raffaele Fitto, Minister for European Affairs in the far-right government of Giorgia Meloni, has been appointed Vice-President of the European Commission, despite criticism from the left and centre of the European political spectrum.

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The announced appointment to this post of this member of Giorgia Meloni’s post-fascist Fratelli d’Italia party has in recent weeks provoked an outcry among the left and centre forces in the European Parliament, where his hearing promises to be stormy. The new European Commission must still receive the approval of MEPs before taking office.