A new-look European Commission unveiled by its president Ursula von der Leyen has immediately come under fire.

Outlining the new team to MEPs in Strasbourg on Tuesday, the German official told deputies that gender balance had been uppermost in her thoughts.

The college, as it is formally called, comprises 11 women, 40 per cent of the total.

von der Leyen, set to serve her second term as president, said, “When I received the first set of nominations and candidates, we were on track for around 22% women and 78% men. 

“That was unacceptable.”

She added, “So I worked with the Member States and we were able to improve the balance to 40% women and 60% men.”

She told parliamentarians, “And it shows that – as much as we have achieved – there is still so much more work to do.”

But some MEPs have reacted with anger at the composition of the Commission.

The Left Group’s co-chair Martin Schirdewan (DIE LINKE, Germany) said, “This European Commission will be driven by private profits, short-sighted growth, and a disregard for the common good. “

The MEP added, “Instead of presenting a Commission for the people of Europe, Ursula von der Leyen has introduced a team that caters to corporate interests, right-wing populism, and blatant lobbying. We reject any candidate with conflicts of interest and demand a commitment to workers’ rights, a just transition, and an economy that serves people—not corporate greed.” 

Further criticism came from Anna Cavazzini, Chair of the European Parliament Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, who commented, “The proposal to appoint Raffaele Fitto as Executive Vice President is a misguided concession to Giorgia Meloni and her post-fascist Italian brothers.”

The MEP went on, “Ursula von der Leyen is putting a big question mark on her ambition to firmly anchor the EU in the democratic center over the next five years.

“On consumer protection: I believe it is be a mistake to downgrade and hide it in the responsibilities of the Justice Commissioner. In the last legislature, it was dossiers linking consumer protection with the green transition that were most relevant for citizens.”

The new team, that will steer EU legislative for the next five years, is:

·     Teresa Ribera – Executive Vice-President of a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition. Responsible for Competition policy. Guide the work to ensure that Europe stays on track for its goals set out in the European Green Deal.

·     Henna Virkkunen – Executive Vice-President for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy. Responsible for the portfolio on digital and frontier technologies. Will look at the internal and external aspects of security and democracy, such as the rule of law.

·     Stéphane Séjourné – Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy.Responsible for industry, SMEs and the Single Market portfolio. Guide the work to put in place the conditions for companies to thrive.

·     Kaja Kallas – High Representative and Vice-President. The bridge between internal and external policies and ensure a “Geopolitical Commission.”

·     Roxana Mînzatu – Executive Vice-President for People, Skills and Preparedness. Responsible for skills, education and culture, quality jobs and social rights.

·     Raffaele Fitto – Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms.Responsible for the portfolio dealing with cohesion policy, regional development and cities.

·     Maroš Šefčovič – Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, a new portfolio which also includes customs policy. Also has a second role as Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency.

·     Valdis Dombrovskis – Commissioner for Economy and Productivity and Commissioner for Implementation and Simplification.

·     Dubravka Šuica – Commissioner for the Mediterranean, a new role. Responsible for the wider southern neighbourhood.

·     Olivér Várhely – Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare. Responsible for building the European Health Union. 

·     Wopke Hoekstra –  Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth. Work on implementation and adaptation, on climate diplomacy and decarbonisation. Also responsible for taxation.

·     Andrius Kubilius – Commissioner for Defence and Space. Work on developing the European Defence Union and boosting investment and industrial capacity.

·     Marta Kos – Commissioner for Enlargement – also responsible for the Eastern neighbourhood and work on supporting Ukraine – and continuing the work on reconstruction, and support candidate countries to prepare them for accession.

·     Jozef Síkela – Commissioner for International Partnerships. Lead work on Global Gateway.

·     Costas Kadis – Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans. Aims to present the first European Oceans Pact. 

·     Maria Luís Albuquerque – Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investment Union. Aims to strengthen and complete Capital Markets Union.

·     Hadja Lahbib –  Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, another new portfolio which will look at resilience, preparedness and civil protection.. 

·     Magnus Brunner – Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration. Focus on the implementation of the Pact on Asylum and Migration.

·     Jessika Roswall – Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy. Job is to help preserve the environment and develop a more circular and more competitive economy.

·     Piotr Serafin – Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration. Focus on preparing the next long-term budget.

·     Dan Jørgensen –  Commissioner for Energy and Housing. The first ever Commissioner for Housing – looking at all aspects from energy efficiency to investment and construction. 

·     Ekaterina Zaharieva – Commissioner for Research and Innovation. Focus on spending on strategic priorities and on innovation.

·     Michael McGrath – Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law. Responsibility to take forward the European Democracy Shield.

·     Apostolos Tzitzikostas – Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. Responsible for mobility of goods and people.

·     Christophe Hansen – Commissioner for Agriculture and Food. Tasked to bring to life the report and recommendations of the Strategic Dialogue and develop a Vision for Agriculture and Food in the first 100 days of the mandate. 

·     Glenn Micallef – Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Culture, Youth and Sport.