European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen has made significant strides in promoting gender parity within her new team, with six women occupying top positions out of eight. This move comes after facing resistance from several EU member states in meeting her demand for gender balance.
In addition to von der Leyen and foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Spanish Socialist Teresa Ribero has been appointed to lead the green transition and oversee competition and anti-trust matters. Three other women have also been named as vice presidents.
Following the resignation of French heavyweight Thierry Breton, former Prime Minister Stephane Sejourne has been assigned the industrial portfolio, giving France a strong voice in the Commission.
Von der Leyen encountered challenges as many member states initially proposed only 22% female candidates, prompting her to advocate for a more balanced representation. Through collaborative efforts, the gender balance was improved to 40% women and 60% men.
While full gender parity was not achieved in numbers, von der Leyen ensured that women were well-represented in key roles within the Commission.
The Commission, responsible for proposing legislation and upholding regulations for the EU's 27 member countries, is composed of a College of Commissioners overseeing various portfolios such as agriculture, economics, competition, security, and migration policy.
Despite the upcoming start date of November 1, speculations suggest that the Commission may not commence operations until January.
Von der Leyen has been actively engaging with smaller countries to encourage a shift in their candidate selections. Notably, a male candidate in Slovenia withdrew in favor of a female replacement, showcasing efforts to diversify the Commission's composition.
As von der Leyen allocates portfolios to countries, coveted roles like those related to trade, finance, and EU enlargement are highly sought after. Additionally, positions such as vice president hold significant appeal among candidates vying for influential roles within the Commission.
