The Commission President is expected to give a first overview of the policy portfolios her team of 26 Commissioners will be called upon to lead.
Ursula von der Leyen is meeting the President of the European Parliament and political leaders in Strasbourg on Tuesday, where she is expected to unveil the “structure and portfolios” of her future team of European commissioners.
The presentation, part of new parliamentary requirements, is designed to give parliament's political leaders a chance to scrutinize its plans before the nominees face parliamentary hearings and a confirmation vote.
But uncertainty still hangs over what exactly von der Leyen will be able to reveal on Tuesday, after political disputes in Slovenia prevented the country's candidate, Marta Kos, from being cleared in time for the meeting.
Slovenia and Romania withdrew their initial candidacies after von der Leyen lobbied several European governments to have women represent them, as part of her coordinated efforts to ensure parity in her team. The Slovenian opposition accused the government of bowing to von der Leyen’s pressure, preventing a parliamentary committee from giving the green light to Kos’s candidacy.
This means that von der Leyen could be forced to reveal political portfolios without distributing them among the appointed commissioners.
The abrupt announcement on Monday of Thierry Breton's resignation and his withdrawal from his candidacy for the presidency also cast doubt on Ursula von der Leyen's ability to unveil her future team. But France quickly proposed Stéphane Séjourné as a new candidate, aiming for a portfolio linked to Europe's competitiveness.
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