The month of August is coming to an end and with it marks the beginning of a new journey. A return to political activity in Brussels that is beginning to outline the contours of the next leadership of the European Commission. The deadline for countries to submit their applications to the next College of Commissioners has passed. At a time when the stakes for the bloc’s industrial competitiveness are high, the Economy portfolio is at stake between Austria, Ireland, Netherlands, Slovenia, Portugal and of course Italy.
In concrete terms, Austrian Finance Minister Magnus Brunner is taking part in the fight to implement the EU’s economic policy. with extensive experience in financial policy, economic and competition at European level. But Austria’s ambitions to obtain a responsible portfolio within the Community executive will clash with those of Ireland and the Netherlands.
Both countries have opted for former finance ministers in their appointments to the leadership of Brussels. Michael McGrath, selected by Ireland. The candidate has already met with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. A meeting that, he said, “went well” and discussed the responsibilities he could assume in the next legislature. The fact that Dublin is presenting a strong candidate and has rejected the German request to also present the name of a woman (i.e. to present two candidates) confirms Ireland’s aspirations for an important portfolio.
But they will have to deal with the Netherlands. Your candidate, Wopke Hoekstratook a seat in the European Commission after Franz Timmermans resigned as Green Deal Commissioner in October to run in the Dutch elections. Although his portfolio has been more climate-focused throughout these months, it is worth remembering that the Dutchman was the Dutch Minister of Finance and is characterised by his vision of budgetary discipline and his reluctance towards new funds at EU level.
Portugal was one of the last member states to submit its application to Brussels.The candidate will be the former Minister of Finance, Maria Luís Albuquerque. He has extensive experience in economic policy: he participated in the decisions of the 2008 economic crisis that managed to calm the confidence of markets and investors. The fact that she is one of the few women who have been presented for the position of commissioner also works in her favor, despite Von der Leyen’s requests and insistences. Therefore, in order to achieve gender balance, the German woman could give these candidates more positions of power.
The head of the Community executive herself calls on the Member States to appoint more women to the European Commission, as they are only counted six candidates from all twenty-seven Member StatesA situation that completely calls into question the norms of gender parity.
Nor is it that Italy or Slovenia are considering female candidates. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s bet has not yet reached Brussels. It is most likely the Minister for European Affairs, Raffaele Fitto, as reported Policywho also assumed responsibility for managing the recovery plan funds. It is important to point out that in the distribution of posts in the previous European Commission, it was precisely Italian, Paolo Gentiloni, who assumed responsibility for the Economy.
And Slovenia has also opted for a profile that goes in this direction. Candidate Tomaž Vesel was president of the Court of Auditors and participated in the FIFA corruption investigation. Also He has experience in the budgetary aspect of public administration.
Spain bets on Ribera
August 30 marked the deadline for member states to submit their applications to the European Commission. Names have been emerging throughout the summer. Some old acquaintances, like that of the Latvian Valdis Dombrovskis. The current economic vice-president of the European Commission is aiming for a third term in Brussels, even if he could leave aside his responsibilities in the field of trade.
At the beginning of the month, the head of the Community Executive will publicly present the final composition of the list of candidates and present it to the European Parliament. Spain, for its part, confirmed this week the appointment of the Minister of Ecological Transition to the European Commission. An aspiration in which he seems to have all the figures to achieve with the Climate and Environment portfolioIt remains to be seen whether he will have responsibilities in the energy transition.
Fight for the wallet Competition
Another important position to be nominated will be that of the Competition portfolio. The position, held until now by the Danish liberal Margrethe Vestager, has a certain appeal due to its independence and room for manoeuvre compared to the presidency of the European Commission that the Dane enjoyed. Far from there being a clear candidate, the Frenchman Thierry Breton, already close to issues related to large digital companies, could be the liberal’s successor in this area. And even if Belgium is still slow to present its candidacy, the current Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, is also suitable, since he replaced Vestager when she ran for the presidency of the European Investment Bank (EIB).
