The EU finally has a new Commission
25 November 2024
It was a long, tedious process, but Ursula von der Leyen's new Commission were finally elected this week by the European Parliament. The election of the final six executive vice presidents and Hungary’s health commissioner, Olivér Várhelyi, came after weeks of negotiations, particularly between the European People’s Party (EPP), the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), and Renew Europe in a drawn-out process that saw heated debates over key figures, including Spain's Teresa Ribera and Italy's Raffaele Fitto.
The fiercest dispute centred on Ribera, criticised for her handling of a deadly Valencia flood. The EPP demanded that she pledge to resign if she was charged by Spain's judiciary, which she refused. In response, S&D blocked Fitto’s confirmation, citing his alignment with the far-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR). Ultimately, though, Ribera was approved without a resignation pledge, Fitto advanced despite opposition, and Várhelyi was stripped of responsibilities for sexual and reproductive health due to EU unease over Hungary’s far-right policies under Orbán.
Now, the new Commission takes office on 1 December, marking the start of von der Leyen's more right-leaning second term. It'll focus on nine key areas: enabling sustainable growth and the digital transition, restricting migration, and developing a unified defence policy.
 | Leticia Batista Cabanes This whole debacle was a perfect example of the increasingly polarised nature of EU politics, as ideological clashes threaten the delicate balance of power-sharing. The EPP emerged as a dominant force, securing 14 commissioners, while S&D and Renew Europe extracted key concessions to maintain influence. However, left-wing groups and Greens have criticised the process as a "backroom deal", arguing that the package approach undermined parliamentary scrutiny. |
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