What you need to know about the new European Commission

Translated by Andrea Solazzo

On 17 September 2024, Ursula von der Leyen presented the new European Commission in Strasbourg, after intensive negotiations involving the 27 member states. The Commission will be active until 2029, with a mandate that will focus on three fundamental pillars: prosperity, security and democracy.

How is the Commission composed?
The new Commission consists of 27 commissioners, one from each member country, including 11 women and 16 men, a number that has caused controversy for not achieving the promised gender parity. However, von der Leyen tried to balance this by assigning four of the six executive vice-presidencies to women, including Teresa Ribera, already known for her commitment to the ecological transition. The Commission's hierarchical system has been revamped, with six executive vice-presidents supervising the work of the other commissioners, reflecting the increasing complexity of the issues facing the EU. This "spillover" system allows for greater interconnection between different competences, such as decarbonisation and digitisation, which are central to the new European agenda.

Which appointment has been assigned to Italy?
One of the most relevant appointments is that of Raffaele Fitto, a member of the Italian government, who will hold the position of executive vice-president for Cohesion and Reforms. His delegation will be crucial for reducing regional inequalities within the EU, an issue that is particularly relevant for Italy and the Mezzogiorno. Fitto will be responsible for managing funds for less developed regions, promoting structural reforms to ensure inclusive growth.
Fitto's appointment had a strong political impact at the European level, as it is considered a victory for the Meloni government, which sees this appointment as a sign of Italy's newfound weight in Europe. However, his appointment was greeted with reservations by left-wing political forces, which expressed concerns about the direction cohesion policies might take under his leadership, as he is a political exponent of Fratelli d'Italia, a party that sits among the Conservatives and Reformists in the European Parliament.

Green transition, but European competitiveness also a priority
The new Commission will be moving in a more uncertain and sensitive global context than 5 years ago, with the need to deal with wide-ranging issues such as economic competitiveness, the transition to a low-carbon economy and technological sovereignty. Ursula von der Leyen stressed the importance of making Europe a world leader in these areas, drawing inspiration from Mario Draghi's recent report on European competitiveness. The ecological transition remains one of the main priorities, entrusted to Spanish Vice-President Teresa Ribera, while Finland's Henna Virkkunen will deal with technological sovereignty and security. These topics are inevitably intertwined with the challenge of keeping Europe globally competitive without compromising climate ambitions.

A Commissioner also for defence
Another crucial point will be the management of security, both internal and external. The idea of appointing a Commissioner for Defence was conceived a few months ago by Von der Leyen herself, which was greeted with much controversy. The appointment was eventually given to Andrius Kubilius, a Lithuanian: a clear signal of the EU's intention to strengthen its defence capability, in response to the Russian threat and the war in Ukraine.

The challenge of digitisation
Digitisation will be another main focus of the new mandate. Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, will have the task of leading Europe through digital transformation, a process that must be balanced with the protection of citizens' digital rights and data security, following the same commitment that led to the Digital Services Act (DSA).

The appointments are not yet official
Now the new candidates will have to face an examination before the committees of the European Parliament in order to be confirmed. This step is crucial, as the Parliament can express dissent towards certain candidates, as has happened in the past, forcing governments to propose new names. The process will end with a final vote, scheduled for October 2024, during which the Parliament will approve or reject the entire Commission.

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