EU members have until 30 August to propose candidates for the EU executive. L’Observatoire de l’Europe takes you through the personalities who might fill Brussels’ not-quite-top jobs.
The EU has agreed its roster of top jobs – now L’Observatoire de l’Europe takes you through the other faces who could shape EU policy over the next five years.
On 18 July Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen won MEPs’ approval to serve a second term as European Commission President, and must now build out her top team of commissioners.
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.
Though she’s asked for formal nominations by the end of August, many names have already been announced or leaked – and most leaders seem to be her ignoring her request to propose both male and female candidates to ensure gender balance.
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.
L’Observatoire de l’Europe looks at who each country might send to Brussels, and what positions they will be lobbying for.
Austria
The government coalition agreement lets the center-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.
ÖVP seems to favour current Finance Minister Magnus Brunner and EU Minister Karoline Edtstadler as male and female options. The Greens have proposed ÖVP’s Othmar Karas, formerly vice-president of the European Parliament, as a compromise.
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.
Belgium
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.
The likely portfolio depends on the candidate: economic if Reynders; foreign affairs if Wilmès; health if Vandenbroucke.
Bulgaria
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.
Croatia
Multiple sources have told L’Observatoire de l’Europe they believe current Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica is likely to stay in post. She recently chose to stay as commissioner for Democracy and Demography despite having the alternative opportunity to serve as an MEP after June elections.
Šuica is rumoured by EU diplomats to be a potential candidate for health, though in a recent post on X she appeared to express an interest in the issue of housing.
Cyprus
The candidate is not known, and incumbent commissioner Stella Kyriakides has announced she is not coming back.
An EU diplomat confirmed to L’Observatoire de l’Europe that Cyprus is interested in the newly announced Commissioner for the Mediterranean.
Czechia
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.
Denmark
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.
Estonia
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.
Finland
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.
France
President Emmanuel Macron confirmed his intention to re-nominate incumbent commissioner Thierry Breton on 27 June, according to a report in Le Monde. Since then, Macron has taken a drubbing in parliamentary elections; 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.
Germany
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.
Greece
Outgoing Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas is rumoured by some to be Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ choice, while others say the odds for former EU Committee of the Regions President Apostolos Tzitzikostas are improving. Interior Minister Niki Kerameus is rumoured in Athens to be the likely female candidate.
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. Tzitzikostas could also be a good pick for cohesion policy.
Hungary
Viktor Orbán’s government has yet to name a candidate, but two people are most widely tipped for the job: current EU Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi and MEP Enikő Győri.
EU diplomats report 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.
Ireland
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.
Italy
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
Latvia has again chosen to send the same person to Brussels, Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, currently responsible for trade and economics.
The country will likely seek an economic portfolio linked to competitiveness or growth. But Dombrovskis could also aid with Ukraine’s economic reconstruction given his closeness to the issue, or something related to the EU’s security.
Lithuania
Lithuanian media has reported Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis is the likely candidate. If so, he’d probably seek an external-facing, foreign policy role, such as enlargement or defence. He has public support from Manfred Weber, leader of the EU-wide centre-right political group the EPP.
Luxembourg
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.
Malta
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.
Netherlands
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.
Poland
Foreign minister Radosław Sikorski was previously rumoured to be seeking a Brussels top job. But the main diplomatic slot has been handed to Kallas, and it’s not clear if he’d quit his government role for a lesser position such as defence commissioner. Some media reports have also tipped Piotr Serafin for a post linked to energy policy. Serafin is currently Poland’s ambassador to the EU, and was previously chief of staff to Prime Minister Donald Tusk when he headed the European Council.
Portugal
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.
Romania
President Klaus Iohannis was previously tipped as a candidate to head the European Commission, and also put himself forward for the top job at NATO. But it’s unclear if he’d leave Bucharest for a lesser position, given that could precipitate early elections.
Other names thrown around include MEPs Siegfried Mureşan, who was a candidate for commissioner in 2019, and Mihai Tudose, a powerful politician in Tulcea County.
Picking Tudose would allow von der Leyen to bolster representation of the centre-left in her college – which may prove critical as she seeks to court the votes of the Parliament’s 136 socialists in the autumn.
Ciolacu, himself facing elections in November, may seek to argue that, as the last two Romanian commissioners were women, he only needs to name a man.
He’s expressed the intention to negotiate for an economic portfolio.
Slovakia
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. Like many others, Pellegrini is rumoured to be seeking a strong economic portfolio.
Slovenia
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.
Spain
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.
Sweden
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.
