The upcoming days will shape the next five years of the European Commission. Back in August, EU member states nominated their candidates for the next European Commission. Now, from 4-12 November, the Commissioners-designate who were assigned to various portfolios by President Von der Leyen will undergo hearings conducted by Members of the European Parliament.
Let’s take a look at the portfolios and Commission candidates that can be expected to play a crucial role in promoting a more inclusive and diverse Europe in the years to come.
Hadja Lahbib
The Belgian Foreign Affairs Minister was assigned the portfolio ‘Humanitarian Aid, Crisis Preparedness and Management, Civil Protection, and Equality’. Her equality agenda promises to focus on promoting women’s rights, including ethnic minorities, and protecting LGBTQI+ individuals. While we applaud her commitment to broadening inclusion for women and ethnic minorities in Europe, it remains to be seen how she will promote intersectionality and ensure that equality will be promoted in other EU policy areas such as entrepreneurship and democratic participation.
Magnus Brunner
Brunner, the former Austrian Minister of Finance, is arguably one of the most controversial nominees. Despite his lack of experience in the field, Von der Leyen has chosen him for the Migration portfolio. In his responses to the Parliament’s preliminary written questions, Brunner appeared to lean towards a more restrictive migration policy, potentially catering to far-right groups. At The New European, we view migrants’ cross-cultural backgrounds as valuable assets to Europe’s society and economy, rather than threats, and we believe that embracing this diversity can lead to greater innovation, cultural enrichment, and economic growth for the entire region.
Roxana Mînzatu
Romanian Mînzatu has been appointed as the Executive Vice-President for People, Skills, and Preparedness. With extensive political experience, including her tenure as Minister of European Funds in her home country, she is well-equipped for this role. In her written responses, she emphasised her commitment to promoting the inclusion of women and girls in the labour market and enhancing their entrepreneurial and digital skills. We celebrate Minzatu’s dedication to fostering greater gender inclusion in Europe but remain eager to see how she will ensure an intersectional approach when it comes to supporting under-represented groups, including migrant and refugee women, ethnic minorities, young people, older adults and people with disabilities.
Stéphane Séjourné
Séjourné, the commissioner candidate from France, brings a wealth of experience in European politics, having served as minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs in Attal’s government and as a Member of the European Parliament since 2019. One of his key tasks will be to improve access to finance, simplify the regulatory environment and promote innovation for SMEs. As SMEs are the backbone of the European economy, cutting red tape is crucial to creating a more inclusive business sector. We applaud Séjourné’s commitment to working with Mînzatu to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities and contribute to the social economy and a more inclusive society.
The European Commission is the only European institution in charge of drawing up proposals for new legislation and plays a key role in allocating EU funds, deciding on policy priorities, ensuring compliance with EU law and representing the EU on the international stage. It will be decisive for Europe’s future to have Commissioners committed to fostering a more inclusive society, tapping into diverse voices and skills to make our economy and democracy more resilient.
We therefore urge all commissioners to prioritise inclusion, participation, and cultural innovation, by embracing the diverse perspectives that Europe has to offer. In addition, we strongly recommend increasing the presence of marginalised groups within the institutions, including the Commission, for instance through expert groups, to ensure a wide variety of viewpoints are considered in the policymaking process. By embracing these collaborations, organisations representing the interests of different societal groups, including migrants and people with cross-cultural backgrounds, the Commission can work towards a more inclusive and representative decision-making process.