The new European Commission executive is taking shape as the current ones remains in office until the end of October, but most governments have already announced their candidates for the next five-year term.
POLITICO carries a roundup of what we know so far.
WHO’S STAYING
Valdis Dombrovskis, Latvia, European People’s Party (EPP)
Current role: The European Commission’s vice president for the euro and social dialogue.
Expected role in the new Commission: Latvia is hoping to get a portfolio connected to finance and the economy, according to one official.
Mariya Gabriel, Bulgaria, EPP
Current role: European commissioner for digital economy and society
Expected role in the new Commission: Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov has said that he turned down the post of high representative for foreign policy for his country and wants “a commissioner with a real portfolio.” He also said he would be keen to keep the digital portfolio for Bulgaria.
Johannes Hahn, Austria, EPP
Current role: European commissioner for neighborhood policy and enlargement
Expected role in the new Commission: It is uncertain what portfolio Hahn would take.
Phil Hogan, Ireland, EPP
Current role: European commissioner for agriculture
Expected role in the new Commission: Hogan could stay on as agriculture commissioner, but his name has also been floated as a possible trade commissioner.
Věra Jourová, Czech Republic, Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)
Current role: European commissioner for justice, consumers and gender equality
Expected role in the new Commission: Jourová is hoping to get an economic or digital portfolio.
Maroš Šefčovič, Slovakia, Party of European Socialists (PES)
Current role: European Commission vice president in charge of the energy union
Expected role in the new Commission: Slovakia is hoping to get a vice president role with a “strong portfolio,” according to one official.
Frans Timmermans, Netherlands, PES
Current role: European Commission first vice president
Expected role in the new Commission: While Timmermans’ party is not in power in his home country, the Netherlands is nevertheless expected to nominate him. He is likely to take the position of first vice president in the new Commission
Margrethe Vestager, Denmark, ALDE
Current role: European commissioner for competition
Expected role in the new Commission: Vestager is also expected to take a senior post in the new Commission under a deal agreed by EU leaders.
WHO’S ON THE WAY IN
Josep Borrell, Spain, PES
Current role: Spain’s minister for foreign affairs
Expected role in the new Commission: The Council has nominated Borrell as the next EU high representative overseeing foreign affairs and security policy.
Helena Dalli, Malta, PES
Current role: Malta’s minister for European affairs and equality
Expected role in the new Commission: It is uncertain what portfolio Dalli would take.
Ylva Johansson, Sweden, PES
Current role: Sweden’s employment minister
Expected role: While it has yet to be determined which portfolio Johansson would receive, she has experience working on employment, education and welfare policy.
Stella Kyriakides, Cyprus, EPP
Current role: Member of Cyprus’ House of Representatives
Expected role: While is it unclear what portfolio Cyprus would receive, Kyriakides has a background in health and social affairs.
Janez Lenarčič, Slovenia, unaffiliated
Current role: Ambassador of Slovenia to the EU
Expected role: Slovenia is interested in portfolios such as enlargement, regional policy, energy, and trade, one official said.
Didier Reynders, Belgium, ALDE
Current role: Belgium’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister
Expected role: As a foreign minister and former finance minister, Reynders has experience working on a range of policy issues, but it is unclear which portfolio Belgium is hoping to get: The outgoing government remains in office in a caretaker capacity following a general election in May as a new administration has not yet been formed.
Margaritis Schinas, Greece, EPP
Current role: European Commission chief spokesperson
Expected role: It remains unclear what portfolio Schinas, who has been involved with EU decision-making for nearly three decades, would take.
Nicolas Schmit, Luxembourg, PES
Current role: Member of the European Parliament and former minister for labor, employment, and social economy. Luxembourg’s government is set to nominate Schmit as part of a coalition deal.
Expected role in the new Commission: Schmit has expressed interest in a social policy portfolio.
Kadri Simson, Estonia, ALDE
Current role: Simson served as Estonia’s minister of economic affairs from 2016 until 2019.
Expected role in the new Commission: It’s not certain what role Simson could receive, but in a letter to the Council, Prime Minister Jüri Ratas highlighted her expertise in energy, transport and the internal market.
Virginijus Sinkevičius, Lithuania. His Farmers and Greens Union forms part of the Greens/European Free Alliance group in the European Parliament, but is not a member of the umbrella political family, the European Greens Party.
Current role: Lithuania’s minister of economy and innovation
Expected role: Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda said that Sinkevičius was in line for a “significant” portfolio but did not offer any specifics.
Dubravka Šuica, Croatia, EPP
Current role: Member of the European Parliament
Expected role: It remains uncertain which portfolio Šuica, a former mayor of Dubrovnik, would receive.
László Trócsányi, Hungary, not a party member but allied with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Current role: Trócsányi served as Hungary’s justice minister from 2014 until 2019 and is now a member of the European Parliament.
Expected role in the new Commission: Trócsányi told POLITICO that he is interested in pursuing the European neighbourhood policy and enlargement portfolio, or international cooperation and development.
Jutta Urpilainen, Finland, PES
Current role: A member of Finland’s parliament, Urpilainen served as the country’s finance minister from 2011 until 2014.
Expected role in the new Commission: While it remains unclear what position Finland would get, Urpilainen’s experience could lead to a finance-oriented portfolio.
Ursula von der Leyen, Germany, EPP
Current role: Commission president-elect, previously German defense minister
Role in the new Commission: Von der Leyen was nominated as the Commission’s next president by the European Council. She was confirmed in a vote in Parliament in mid-July.
Janusz Wojciechowski, Poland, European Conservatives and Reformists
Current role: Auditor in the European Court of Auditors
Expected role in the new Commission: Von der Leyen reportedly wants Poland to take over the job of agriculture commissioner. A Polish government spokesperson has said this would be “a very, very good decision for Poland.”
OTHER POSSIBLE MEMBERS
Pedro Marques, Portugal, PES
Current role: Member of the European Parliament and former minister
Elisa Ferreira, Portugal, formerly affiliated with PES
Current role: Vice governor of the Bank of Portugal, former minister, and former MEP
Via POLITICO
