EU chief introduces new team with women leading in conservative Commission

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen defied the reluctance of many EU member states by appointing women to many of the top roles on her new team for the next five-year tenure. This move ensures greater gender representation at the highest levels of the bloc’s leadership, with only two men in her top echelon alongside four women as vice presidents.

Key appointments include Kaja Kallas as the foreign policy chief, Teresa Ribera to lead the green transition and serve as the competition czar, Henna Virkkunen for rule of law and digital leadership, and Roxana Minzatu for social affairs leadership. The composition of the Commission team, leaning to the right after the recent elections, still needs confirmation.

Notable controversial appointments include Raffaele Fitto of the far-right Brothers of Italy party and French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne to the industrial portfolio. Von der Leyen’s efforts for gender parity faced challenges from member states, but she managed to increase female representation to 40% through negotiation.

The upcoming hearings in the European Parliament will scrutinize the candidates, particularly Fitto. The Commission’s role in proposing legislation and overseeing trade within the EU underscores the significance of the appointments made by von der Leyen.