The deadline for nominations for candidates for the European Commission was set for 30 August, with key candidates emerging from some EU member states. In Bulgaria, former Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva and former Ecology Minister Julian Popov were proposed as the country’s two candidates for European Commissioner. This makes Bulgaria the only country to have submitted both a male and female candidate by the deadline, in accordance with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s request. Italy’s new EU commissioner, Raffaele Fitto, has a long political career that began in Puglia. Born in Maglie in 1969, he has held various political positions that have led him to his current role as commissioner.
Denmark has put forward Dan Jørgensen as its candidate for the European Commission, as part of Ursula von der Leyen’s second team of EU commissioners. Jørgensen, a social democrat, has a history of political experience in Brussels, having served as a member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2013. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced the nomination as part of a wider cabinet reshuffle. Meanwhile, Belgium has yet to elect a commissioner due to political turmoil in the country. Despite von der Leyen’s push for gender balance in the European Commission, Belgium is expected to appoint a male commissioner, as very few female candidates have been nominated so far.
Additionally, Estonia has put forward Kadri Simson, currently serving as the country’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure. Simson has been active in Estonian politics since 1999 and is a member of the Centre Party. Lithuania has chosen Virginijus Sinkevičius as its candidate for the European Commission. Sinkevičius is the country’s Minister of Economy and Innovation and is a member of the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union. Meanwhile, Greece has nominated Magdalini Koutantou, a former Minister of Transparency and Human Rights, as its candidate for the European Commission. Koutantou has a background in human rights law and has been involved in Greek politics for several years.
Overall, the process of selecting candidates for the European Commission from various EU member states has seen a mix of experienced politicians and newcomers to the European political scene. With some countries managing to nominate both male and female candidates, while others face challenges in finalizing their selections due to political turmoil, the composition of Ursula von der Leyen’s second team of EU commissioners remains a work in progress. As the deadline for nominations has passed, the focus now shifts to the vetting process and the eventual formation of the new European Commission.
