Shaping Europe’s future: Election of the new European Commission

On the 27th of November, the European Parliament approved the new Commission that will enter into force in December 2024 and stay for the next five years. The election saw the favour of 370 MEPs while 282 voted against and 36 abstained, reaching a majority of 54% (lower than the 2019 election with a majority of 65%).

Democracy and protection of the European values and borders are among the key priorities of the new Commission, in line with the pledges of commitment of the 2019 Commission. A confirmation of this is the focus on strengthening foreign policy cohesion in response to the geopolitical challenges to ensure the safeguard of democratic values across the Union, and the promotion of social policies to tackle inequalities and poverty issues inside the Union.

Attention is also given to Europe’s green and digital transition through the European Green Deal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and the advancement of technological and digital innovation.

Overall, the key priorities that the new Commission will aim to pursue, in collaboration with other European institutions, as part of the Strategic Agenda 2024-2029, are:

  • freedom and democracy
  • strength and security
  • prosperity and competitiveness

‘’I have appointed as Executive Vice-President, to lead our work on skills and preparedness Roxana Mînzatu. She will ensure that we put people first. Because productivity depends on good working conditions. On earning a fair wage. On a good work-life balance. On finding a nursery for your kids, and good care for your elderly parents. And on having access to decent and affordable homes,’’ said President Von der Leyen at the European Parliament Plenary on the New College of Commissioners.

A new portfolio for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Mentioning prosperity and competitiveness, MEP Roxana Minzatu was appointed Executive Vice President for People, Skills and Preparedness (ex Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion). After a three-hour-long hearing on the 12th of November, the Designated Commissioner passed the test with high marks from all European parties with the only exception of the far-right groups Patriots for Europe and Europe of Sovereign Nations that abstained from voting.

In her hearing, Minzatu stressed the importance of empowering the new generations to build a resilient and democratic society and assessed three pillars in her mandate:

  • preparedness: enhancing education and lifelong learning, promoting sectors like STEM, and emphasizing the importance of skills portability through EU initiatives like Erasmus+;
  • quality jobs: making decent wages and fair working conditions a priority, according the same rights whether online or offline, regardless of the type of contract or training, and modernizing the social security system;
  • social fairness: aiming for real equality between men and women as well as addressing child poverty and fostering affordable housing and mental health.

Despite the large approval of Minzatu’s role, the evaluation letter presented by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the Committee on Culture and Education requested a change in the title of the Commissioner’s portfolio, remarking how the title is too broad, not tackling the main focus of the mandate.

As we read from the letter:

‘’From the EMPL Committee perspective, the title does not reflect entirely her future responsibilities, namely the aim of strengthening the European Pillar of Social Rights, in particular with respect to jobs and social rights. It is of utmost importance to ensure consistent contributions of the many Commissioners-designate to social and employment policies targeting the labour market and the welfare state.’’

‘’For the CULT Committee, Education policy is key to providing access to learning and delivering effective and relevant knowledge, skills, values and competences, contributing to better prepared and resilient future generations. Therefore, Education should be part of the title of the portfolio.”

Overcoming divisions and forging compromises is the hallmark of any vivid democracy. And my message today is that we want to work with you in that spirit.

Ursula Von Der Leyen

The new Commission will take office during a period of high geopolitical tension from the protracted conflict in Ukraine and the escalation in the Middle East to the re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States and the rise of the far-right movements in Europe to the challenges of climate change. All these situations will require a major effort to mitigate the impact on our society and economy.

In spite of the disagreements coming from opposite parties, President Von der Leyen called for cooperation on all sides, reminding that “Overcoming divisions and forging compromises is the hallmark of any vivid democracy. And my message today is that we want to work with you in that spirit […] We will work with all democratic pro-European forces in this House. And as I have done in my first mandate, I will always work from the centre. Because we all want the best for Europe and the best for Europeans. So now is the time to come together.”

EAEA is ready to cooperate with the new Commission to ensure that the principles of inclusivity, democracy and diversity are represented and strengthened by the European initiatives.