Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen expressed that without her efforts, the next ‘college’ of European Commissioners would have been overwhelmed by men.
President Ursula von der Leyen expressed exasperation after EU capitals undermined her measures to ensure a gender-balanced ‘college’ of Commissioners charged with steering the work of the EU’s powerful executive arm over the next five years.
What Impact Does Von der Leyen’s Letter Have on Nominations?
In a letter to heads of state and government in July, the EU Commission head had explicitly asked for two nominations – male and female – for the position of European Commissioner.
Only one member state – Bulgaria – has abided by that proposal, which carried no legal weight.
Von der Leyen has since been in talks with many smaller member states, requesting for them to replace their male candidates with women. It means the enrollment of candidates bidding to join von der Leyen’s team stands at nine women and 17 men. “I have throughout my whole political life been battling for women having access to decision-making positions and leading positions,” von der Leyen said.
“And my understanding is that if you don’t ask for it, you don’t get it. It does not come naturally,” she continued. “This is why I sent my letter. Because if I had not sent this letter, there would not have been a hook (…) to look at the diversity topic.”
How Critical Is Gender Balance in the EU Commission?
Von der Leyen criticised the lack of female candidates, stating that just four countries – Spain, Sweden, Finland and Croatia – initially put forward women. Estonia’s former prime minister Kaja Kallas was designated for the role of High Representative for Foreign Affairs by EU leaders in late June.
“If I would not have sent this letter, what would have been the fact or the case? The initial proposals, if you look at the names (…) besides the High Representative and me the President, for the 25 member states that then nominate would have been four women and 21 men,” von der Leyen stated. “So without that letter and without that discussion this would be the next college,” she added, “and therefore it is worth it.”
She seemed to imply her efforts were critical in ensuring female nominations from Belgium, Portugal, Bulgaria and also Romania, the latter of which hit its male candidate for MEP Roxana Mînzatu on Monday. Diplomatic sources have said that von der Leyen has also endeavoured to convince other small member states, including Slovenia and Malta, to abandon their male nominees and replace them with women. The Slovenian government stated in a statement on Tuesday that it would not be retracting its original proposal, Tomaž Vesel.
