Von der Leyen accepts new EU commissioners; now awaiting the EP

The new President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has approved two new candidates for her upcoming European Commission. The two candidates nominated last week by France and Hungary were accepted by Von der Leyen. She is urging Romania to also propose a new candidate. The European Parliament had previously rejected the candidates from these three countries.

Von der Leyen considers the Frenchman Thierry Breton, former minister and CEO of the IT company Atos, suitable as Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry and Defence. This way, French President Macron retains the economically and industrially coveted portfolio in French hands. There were concerns about Breton’s business commitments and close ties to the (French) business sector. He may sell his shareholding in the IT company Atos, reportedly worth 34 million euros. Breton also previously led France Télécom.

Also, the widely known Hungarian EU ambassador in Brussels, Olivér Várhelyi, could join the EU’s executive body. Whether he will receive the Enlargement portfolio depends on the candidate Romania puts forward. The Romanian center-left government fell earlier this month, after which liberal opposition leader Ludovic Orban was tasked with forming a new government.

The legal committee of the European Parliament will first assess whether there is any conflict of interest with the proposed duo. Afterwards, they still have to undergo a hearing. The plan is for the parliament to approve the entire 27-member commission by the end of November, after which the team will commence work on December 1, a month later than previously planned.