Ursula von der Leyen, the first female president of the EU executive, is facing challenges in achieving her goal of gender balance in the top team at the European Commission. Despite her aim for an equal representation of men and women, EU governments have mostly proposed male candidates for the team of commissioners. This imbalance could result in only 22% to 26% women in the next commission, a regression from the 44% female representation in the previous term. The lack of female candidates is causing concern among activists for gender equality, who fear that the commitments to equality are weakening.…

Ursula von der Leyen is set to secure a second term as European Commission president under a deal by EU leaders from pro-European political groups. The agreement, made by the EPP, Socialists, and Liberals, paves the way for von der Leyen’s nomination at a Brussels summit. Alongside her, Kaja Kallas and António Costa will assume key roles within the EU leadership. The swift resolution to the top jobs puzzle may not sit well with some, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who criticized the deal. Despite potential dissent, von der Leyen only needs approval from 361 MEPs in a vote…

Border Talks Between Gibraltar and Spain Hit Roadblock The recent discussions on a post-Brexit deal governing the border between Gibraltar and Spain have stalled, despite claims of progress. The UK Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, met with European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič, along with Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo. Although significant headway was reported in areas such as economy, trade, environment, and social well-being, the issue of border checks remains unresolved. Gibraltar, which heavily relies on access to the European market, faces challenges post-Brexit, given its status as a British overseas territory. The…