18/09/24View in Browser

Everyone gets a share

By Nicholas Wallce 

 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has neatly shared out top jobs among the political camps in the next EU executive, in an effort to give the European Parliament as few reasons as possible to meddle in her plan.

But the confusing division of labour indicates a broader attempt to reassure everyone - governments and political camps - that they got their share.

Von der Leyen has decided to create six vice presidents. She has split these positions among four of the five political families represented by the commissioners-designate, and the governments who nominated them.

The only group missing is the nationalist Patriots for Europe, of which Hungary's nominee - and incumbent commissioner - Olivér Várhelyi is a member, via Viktor Orbán's Fidesz.

There are more political groups in the European Parliament - who still have to decide whether to approve the new crop of Commissioners - but not among the national governments' chosen nominees, which is all von der Leyen has to choose from.

The six vice presidents will be responsible for broad policy briefs that mostly encompass the narrower portfolios given to the other 20 ordinary commissioners. But it is not always clear where one portfolio ends and another begins.

For example, Croatia's Dubravka Šuica will be the Mediterranean Commissioner. According to von der Leyen's mission letter - essentially her job description - Šuica will have to work closely with Vice President Kaja Kallas, the high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, which is to be expected.

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 A member of the USC Street Medicine Team cares for an unhoused person during an 'Inside Safe' operation at an encampment in Koreatown on 17 September 2024 in Los Angeles, California. At least 10 unhoused people were assisted into interim housing during the operation. Mayor Karen Bass' Inside Safe program has brought over 3,000 unhoused Los Angeles residents indoors and addressed over 60 homeless encampments. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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The Roundup

The Roundup

Health Brief - Will EU health funding be restored in 2025?

Mario Draghi’s report on European competitiveness was sharply criticised by far-left and far-right MEPs in a European Parliamentary debate in Strasbourg on Tuesday (17 September) but received strong backing from Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s centrist alliance.

Slovenia’s national parliament is expected to end a procedural hold-up that has prevented the formal nomination of the country’s European Commission candidate on Wednesday (18 September).

The incoming European Commission will face a heavy burden when it comes to tech, tasked with proposing 30 acts and initiatives, according to the mission letters published on Tuesday (17 September).

The European Union’s General Court annulled the European Commission’s €1.49 billion fine on Google for anticompetitive behaviour with its AdSense product on Wednesday (18 September), leaving the Commission just over two months to appeal.

Look out for…

  • Informal meeting of EU transport ministers, 19-20 September 2024
  • EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell is in Gran Canaria, Spain, participating in the XVII edition of the Cotec Europe Symposium.
  • European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli gives a keynote speech on the G20 ministerial meeting in Rio-de-Janeiro and fighting inequality, in the plenary on behalf of Commissioner Urpilainen.
  • European Commissioner for Budget and Administration Johannes Hahn gives a keynote speech at the “23. Österreichischer Europarechtstag 2024”.
  • European Commission President Ursula von der LEYEN hosts a working lunch with the leaders of the six Western Balkan partners.
  • Von der Layen will also be expected to visit Poland later in the day.
  • EESC press point by European Economic and Social Committee President Oliver Ropke and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on imminent action on EU enlargement
  • European Council President Charles Michel meets with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski.

[Edited by Rajnish Singh]

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