The forthcoming composition of the European Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen’s European People’s Party (EPP), is anticipated to consolidate EPP influence over key portfolios, to the dismay of socialist and liberal factions. Specifically, pivotal portfolios such as employment and housing, which were coveted by the center-left socialists, are likely to fall under EPP control. It is expected that Austria’s Magnus Brunner and Croatia’s Dubravka Šuica, both affiliated with the EPP, will assume leadership in these areas, with Brunner possibly overseeing the highly influential competition portfolio. While von der Leyen’s reappointment was secured with the support of socialists and liberals, her continued leadership will require their backing during the formal approval process for the new Commission. Pedro Sánchez, leader of the Socialist Party, has successfully positioned Teresa Ribera for the role of Executive Vice President for the Digital Green Transition. However, other socialist nominees are projected to receive less prominent roles, with Malta’s Glenn Micallef likely to be assigned a minor portfolio and Romania’s Roxana Mînzatu potentially obtaining an economic portfolio. The liberals, on the other hand, are expected to secure portfolios relating to home affairs, financial services, and other economic portfolios. Nevertheless, von der Leyen is advocating for gender parity, urging member states to nominate female candidates where possible. Notably, three executive vice presidencies are predicted to be allocated to France, Italy, and Spain. France’s Thierry Breton is projected to oversee Industry and Strategic Autonomy, while Italy’s Raffaele Fitto may manage the Economy and Post-Pandemic Recovery. Additionally, the EPP is set to retain control over powerful portfolios, including those related to competitiveness, trade, and security. Portfolios concerning energy and agriculture are also expected to remain under EPP leadership. However, Hungary’s Oliver Varhelyi may face replacement due to opposition within the European Parliament. The official announcement of these portfolios is scheduled for next Wednesday. Despite the European Commission’s professed commitment to diversity and inclusion, it has encountered criticism for its lack of gender and ethnic representation. Out of the 27 nominated commissioners, only one individual, Hadja Labib of Belgian-Algerian heritage, represents an ethnic minority. Labib is notable as the first EU Commissioner-designate with a non-EU background, although not the first minority member of the Commission. The European Network Against Racism (ENAR) welcomed Labib’s nomination but underscored the insufficiency of mere representation without substantive mechanisms for racialized communities’ participation in EU policymaking. ENAR has called for systemic changes to address the ongoing underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minorities, who constitute at least 10% of the EU’s population, yet remain marginalized in both the European Commission and the European Parliament. A 2021 Commission survey highlighted that only 7.3% of its workforce identifies as ethnic minorities, and these individuals reported lower levels of satisfaction regarding their inclusion compared to their counterparts. The Commission’s 2023-2024 Action Plan outlines objectives aimed at increasing ethnic minority representation within its staff, thereby ensuring that the Commission more accurately reflects Europe’s demographic diversity. Prominent civil society organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have also called for a greater emphasis on equality and non-discrimination in the Commission’s agenda. These organizations advocate for the establishment of a Commissioner for Equality and Fundamental Rights, which would further prioritize the Union of Equality initiative. Gender balance remains another pressing concern, with only nine of the current 27 nominees being women. In response, Commission President von der Leyen has urged member states to submit both male and female candidates, in line with the Commission’s goal of achieving gender parity, a key objective for its 2019-2024 mandate. Von der Leyen is in the process of finalizing her new European Commission, which is set to be unveiled in the coming week. A report from Die Welt confirmed many of the previously speculated appointments. In this iteration of the Commission, von der Leyen is expected to surround herself with executive vice presidents from major member states, including France, Italy, and Spain. Furthermore, she aims to cultivate a new image, characterized by increased transparency and more frequent press conferences, which contrasts sharply with her first term, during which she was seldom seen engaging directly with the media. A significant challenge for von der Leyen will be fostering collegiality within the new Commission, a point of contention during her first term. Her centralized approach to decision-making, compounded by the considerable influence wielded by her chief of staff, led to tensions and dissatisfaction among several commissioners. These issues came to the fore during the “PieperGate” controversy, which involved the appointment of a CDU politician as the EU’s Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) envoy and sparked open criticism of von der Leyen’s leadership style. The introduction of additional executive vice presidents in this new structure could signal a shift towards more collaborative governance, especially among commissioners from major member states. Among the key appointments, France’s Thierry Breton is likely to be entrusted with Industry and Strategic Autonomy, Spain’s Teresa Ribera with the climate and digital transitions, and Italy’s Raffaele Fitto with the Recovery Plan and Economic Affairs. This allocation of portfolios is seen as a potential effort to appease Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni. Additionally, Latvia’s Valdis Dombrovskis is expected to continue in his role as Executive Vice President, with responsibility for overseeing Ukraine’s reconstruction and EU enlargement. Nonetheless, concerns have emerged within the European Parliament regarding the structure proposed by von der Leyen. Critics have suggested that the new configuration may be overly hierarchical, and some have expressed disquiet about the absence of a vice president dedicated to critical issues such as the rule of law and migration. One parliamentary source voiced apprehension that despite the creation of additional vice-presidential roles, final decision-making power may remain concentrated in von der Leyen’s office. Consequently, some fear that her second term may replicate the centralized governance style that characterized her first.