EU Commission nominations: where are the women?

With just a handful of countries left to put forward names, the next EU executive faces a big problem.

With only six countries still to decide who will serve in the next European Commission, Euronews takes you through the people who could shape EU policy over the coming five years.
On 18 July Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen won MEPs’ approval to serve a second term as European Commission President.
Based on official announcements and Brussels rumours, her top team of commissioners looks like it will have a gender balance problem.
They’re the most senior officials at the EU executive, with one drawn from each member state.
Like ministers in a national government, they’re each given a detailed policy brief, such as trade policy, migration, or managing the EU’s budget.
Von der Leyen can choose how to design and allocate ministerial portfolios – and she’s promised some new ones, such as defence and housing.
Each country is obliged to nominate at least one person for the job, but von der Leyen has stuck by a convention she initiated last time round, where she asks countries to suggest both a male and female candidate to ensure gender balance.
Though she’s asked for formal nominations by the end of August, many names have already been announced or leaked — and so far most leaders seem to be ignoring her request to propose a man and a woman.
Von der Leyen’s recommendation is not legally binding, but allows her more choice in picking a gender balanced Commission — and more personal discretion over make-up of her senior staff.
So far, the candidates are formally known for 21 out of the EU’s 27 member states, and for 15 of them only a male name was put forward.
The full slate of candidates will be presented to the European Parliament in the autumn — and they’ll each be grilled by specialised committees, before MEPs vote whether to approve the college as a whole.
Euronews looks at who each country might send to Brussels, and what positions they will be lobbying for.
In a post on social media platform X, Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer nominated current Finance Minister Magnus Brunner as the next Austrian commissioner.
He describes Brunner as “an experienced government politician with high competence in financial, economic and competition policy at national and European level”, hinting at a preference for an economic portfolio.
The government coalition agreement let the centre-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) pick a commissioner, though coalition partners the Greens have questioned whether that still applies after Prime Minister Sebastian Kurz’s resignation.  
In Brussels, there are rumours Austria might be given agriculture, as von der Leyen wants to give this to someone from her own European People’s Party. Some have also mentioned financial services.
After federal elections in June, Belgium is attempting to form its own government from a likely coalition of five parties. Top positions, including EU commissioner, will likely be agreed as part of those talks.  
The largest party, the conservative New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), has already used most of its leverage to claim the premiership, so the EU role could go to a junior partner—most likely the centrist Reformist Movement (MR), according to sources familiar with the coalition talks.
Potential candidates from MR include incumbent commissioner Didier Reynders and Sophie Wilmès, a former Prime Minister who’s now an MEP. If the pick goes to the Flemish socialist party Vooruit, the likely name would be Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke. However media reports have also suggested that the job is reserved for a francophone given the country’s strict division of jobs between the French and Flemish-speaking communities.
Yvan Verougstraete, recently elected to the European Parliament for the liberal Les Engagés party, has also been touted as a possible nomination in Belgian media, and said in a recent interview that he would not turn the job down if offered.
The likely portfolio depends on the candidate: economic if Reynders; a portfolio related to foreign affairs, perhaps such as enlargement, if Wilmès; health if Vandenbroucke.
Bulgaria is in political crisis after the latest attempt to form a minority government led by the centre-right GERB party failed earlier this month. That brings Bulgaria closer to another round of elections, pushing discussions over EU commissioners or their portfolios off the table.
Iliana Ivanova is Bulgaria’s current commissioner for innovation, research, culture, education and youth. She replaced Mariya Gabriel, who resigned in May 2023 to take on the task of forming a new coalition government.
Current Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica has been nominated to stay in post, she said in a 1 August post on X.
She recently turned down an opportunity to serve as an MEP after June elections, instead choosing to stay on as commissioner for Democracy and Demography.
Šuica is rumoured by EU diplomats to be a potential candidate for health, though in another recent post on X she appeared to express an interest in the issue of housing.
Cyprus’s government confirmed the nomination of former minister Costas Kadis as the next Commissioner. In a written statement, the executive’s spokesperson announced that President Nikos Christodoulides has already communicated this decision to Ursula Von der Leyen.
Kadis, a biology graduate, has served as minister in the Cypriot government where he held three different portfolios — Health, Agriculture, and Education and Culture — under two different governments.
Stella Kyriakides, former Cyprus representative in the Commission and head of the health portfolio congratulated Kadis in a post on X sending him “warm wishes for success.”
An EU diplomat has confirmed to Euronews that Cyprus is interested in the newly announced post of Mediterranean Commissioner; however Kadis’ previous experience in other portfolios may suggest that the country is broadening its horizons.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced that his government “unanimously agreed” on Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Síkela as the Czech commissioner candidate.
Síkela is well-known in Brussels for his key role during the Czech presidency, when he gained agreement on a gas price cap to reduce dependency on Russian fossil fuels, after famously saying he’d “convene as many Energy Council meetings as necessary.” 
Czechia appears to have ignored von der Leyen’s request to suggest both male and female candidates, but new MEP Danuše Nerudová was rumoured to have been in the running too.  
In another post on X, Fiala called for a job reflecting Czechia’s place at the “centre of Europe”.  Síkela’s negotiating experience could make him a strong candidate for energy or trade.
Not yet confirmed, but EU diplomats suggest it might be socialist Dan Jørgensen, minister for global climate policy and development.
Until 2013, he was vice-chair of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, and has been tipped for a climate-linked portfolio.
The European Council already nominated Prime Minister Kaja Kallas to serve as the EU’s top diplomat, formally known as the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, though the appointment is subject to confirmation by the European Parliament.
When Prime Minister, Kallas was one of the strongest voices condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, pushing for sanctions and military support.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo confirmed in June that Finland’s candidate for Commissioner is MEP Henna Virkkunen. Virkkunen joined the European Parliament in 2014 after serving in various Finnish government roles, including as Minister of Education, Public Administration, and Transport.
Security is one priority, but diplomats also express a preference for something related to competitiveness. As an MEP, Virkunnen has been active on issues related to transport, energy, and digital matters.
Incumbent Thierry Breton will again be France’s candidate for commissioner, according to a letter sent by President Emmanuel Macron to von der Leyen, dated 25 July.
Political instability in France, and a change of prime minister, could still lead to a new name being put forward.  
Breton was previously CEO at technology company Atos and minister for economy, finance and industry. Some suggest he could be re-appointed as commissioner for the internal market, a role he’s had since 2019.
Appointed by EU leaders and elected in a secret vote by lawmakers in the European Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen is the first member of the College confirmed officially, and will serve as President.
The Greek government has announced Apostolos Tzitzikostas as its candidate for commissioner. He’s Governor of Central Macedonia, and was previously President of the EU’s Committee of the Regions.
Outgoing Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, who according to some rumours stood a chance of being reappointed, sent his congratulations to his likely successor in a post on X.
Mitsotakis played an essential role in securing a second term for von der Leyen, and may expect a key portfolio in return. In several interviews, he has mentioned aiming for an economic or defence-related portfolio, though Tzitzikostas could also be a good pick for cohesion policy.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said he’ll reappoint current EU Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi.
MEP Enikő Győri had previously been rumoured as another candidate for the post.  
EU diplomats have previously reported Budapest is still hoping to get the enlargement portfolio, though it’s rare for a country to keep the same person in the same post.
Michael McGrath is the Irish government’s nominee for commissioner. He was Minister for Finance from December 2022 to June 2024, and previously Minister for Public Expenditure.
McGrath helped create Ireland’s sovereign wealth fund, which uses the country’s corporate tax windfall to lower college fees, energy bills and childcare costs.
Ireland is likely to seek an economics-focused portfolio such as financial services.
One name often mentioned is Europe Minister Raffaele Fitto, currently responsible for Italy’s recovery and resilience fund. He’s former chair of the right-wing ECR group, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni may feel his popularity and recognition among MEPs would mean his confirmation is in the bag.
If not, it could be diplomat and current spy chief Elisabetta Belloni. 
Fitto could be a good match to Italy’s coveted portfolio, which would include cohesion policy – managing one third of the EU’s budget – plus overseeing the bloc’s recovery and resilience fund, and managing von der Leyen’s plan to reduce administrative burdens. If not, it could be a food portfolio (including agriculture and food safety) or industry. 
Latvia has again chosen to send the same person to Brussels, Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, currently responsible for trade and economics.  
EU diplomats confirmed to Euronews that the country will seek a portfolio related to economy or finance. But Dombrovskis could also aid with Ukraine’s economic reconstruction given his closeness to the issue, or something related to the EU’s security. 
Just weeks after saying he wasn’t interested in the position, former prime minister and current MEP Andrius Kubilius, 67, said on Monday (19 August) that he is up for a job at the Commission after being persuaded last week by Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.
At the same time, Šimonytė confirmed after a meeting of her centre-right Homeland Union (TS-LKD) with coalition partners the Liberal Movement and Freedom Party that she had the necessary approval of President Gitanas Nausėda, a political independent.
Šimonytė’s first choice, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, was forced to withdraw his candidacy over the weekend after it became clear that Nausėda would veto his nomination.
“It would have been a great honour to serve as Lithuania’s European Commissioner, but I will continue to serve my country, help Ukraine and fight for Europe’s future in other ways,” Landsbergis said on 17 August via social media.
Kubilius – a staunch advocate of ramping up military aid to Ukraine – still requires the approval of the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, before he can be officially named as candidate.
The German politician would also have to find a portfolio befitting a veteran former national leader, as the European Council has already named another top-rank Baltic politician with a hawkish stance on Russia, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, as EU foreign policy chief.
Two names are being floated, but only one is promised by the prime minister. 
Under the coalition agreement between the Christian Social Party (CSV) and the Democratic Party (DP), MEP Christophe Hansen would be the official choice to replace Luxembourg’s current Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, Nicolas Schmit – the socialists’ top candidate for the recent EU elections.   
Hansen has experience in European Parliament committees on international trade, employment and social affairs, transport and tourism. But EU diplomats have also suggested Hansen might get agriculture, which von der Leyen wants to give to her own European People’s Party. 
Prime Minister Robert Abela has confirmed Malta’s pick for the European Commission as Glenn Micallef. He is the former chief of staff to the PM and will be the first non-politician to become Malta’s commissioner.  
In an interview in Maltese media where he confirmed the choice, Abela explained that he wanted to avoid choosing someone from his government as “the country needs focused work in ministries.”
Abela had previously picked Health Minister Chris Fearne, but Fearne is now standing trial over a corruption scandal involving the privatisation of hospitals. After the initial judicial decision, Fearne withdrew his EU candidacy, though maintains his innocence.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof opted for the safe route and decided to reappoint his current Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra. “This gives the Netherlands a strong candidate for a substantial portfolio,” Schoof said in a post on X.  
Hoekstra’s Christian Democrat Party is no longer in government, but no other party put forward a candidate. 
The Netherlands is likely to seek a post related to finance, trade or economics.  
Piotr Serafin, currently Poland’s ambassador to the EU, and previously chief of staff to Prime Minister Donald Tusk when he headed the European Council, has been nominated by Tusk as Warsaw’s nominee. Government sources reportedly told Polish TV channel TVP World that the nomination is with a view to Serafin’s appointment as budget commissioner.
Miguel Poiares Maduro, a former regional development minister, is tipped to be Portugal’s next choice for a research, innovation and science commissioner – a post the country has held in the past.  He could also be a candidate for agriculture. 
Poiares Maduro is linked to the centre-right PSD, which is part of von der Leyen’s European People’s Party. 
European Parliament Vice President Victor Negrescu is to be Bucharest’s man in Brussels, Euronews Romania has reported, citing unnamed sources.  
The socialist MEP, educated in Brussels, Paris and Bruges, briefly served as Romania’s EU affairs minister in 2017-18, and has also sat on EU parliament committees responsible for education, constitutional affairs and the EU budget.  
President Klaus Iohannis was previously tipped as a candidate for von der Leyen’s role, but is now rumoured to be targeting a new position as High Representative for Ukraine.
Other names previously circulated for the commissioner role were MEPs Siegfried Mureşan and Mihai Tudose.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, himself facing elections in November, is meeting von der Leyen in Brussels on 22 August to discuss the issue, and has expressed the intention to negotiate for an economic portfolio.
President Peter Pellegrini has confirmed he’ll reappoint Maroš Šefčovič for a fourth term as commissioner.  
Since joining the Commission, Šefčovič, a career diplomat who served as Slovakia’s EU ambassador, has taken on whatever duties have been thrown at him, ranging from human resources and digital policy to climate change and Brexit.  
Like many others, Slovakia would likely be most interested by one of the more prominent political issues of the mandate, such as competitiveness, industry, energy or the green deal. Pellegrini is rumoured to be seeking a strong economic portfolio. 
Tomaž Vesel, previously president of the national Court of Audit, will be Slovenia’s choice. He was announced as candidate by Prime Minister Robert Golob before the EU elections.  
Golob expressed his preference for certain portfolios in April, such as democracy, competition, budget or financial services. 
Teresa Ribera, one of the most influential ministers in Pedro Sánchez’s government, is the official candidate for a place in the College of Commissioners – and Madrid wants something in return for giving up such a big beast. 
The socialist-led government plans to negotiate a powerful vice-presidency in the EU executive, responsible for the Green Deal, energy and environment. Proponents argue that fits with her current portfolio and previous responsibility for EU electricity market reform. 
Jessika Roswall will become Sweden’s first centre-right EU commissioner after less than two years as minister for EU affairs and Nordic cooperation, the government has announced. 
A law graduate, Roswall has also been a member of parliament, where she worked on tax and consumer policy issues. 
When announced as a candidate in July, Roswall mentioned important issues for both Sweden and the EU, such as the war in Ukraine, competitiveness, the climate and crime.