Ursula von der Leyen is considering plans to revamp the structure of the next European Commission.
The biggest change in a draft plan being mulled by the incoming Commission president, according to several EU officials, would be to give greater influence to the Commission’s vice presidents. In the current structure, vice presidents have fancy job titles (and pay packets) but little in the way of real power.
Politico reports that the plan now under consideration would see the executive’s top vice presidents get direct access to Commission staff, which would give them more power to inform and set legislation than now.
However, the structure of the new Commission is still in flux, including nominations for additional vice presidents, and how much power they’ll have.
The reform ideas are part of a broader effort to reflect geographical and political diversity in the executive’s leadership, and to better coordinate issues that don’t fit easily into a single Commission portfolio. Climate is a good example, as it affects everything from energy to transport, agriculture, health and more.
But breaking down policy silos relies on bureaucratic infighting skills. Politico reports that senior official said revamping the system will depend on “how powerful, and how convincing” the new vice presidents are in disrupting the “cottage industries” of existing portfolios,
The pieces of the next Commission are slowly being put together with von der Leyen meeting candidates for commissioner posts and hopes to come up with a complete list in the coming weeks.
Via Politico
