A Commission without focus on workers’ needs or social affairs

On September 17, the European Commission finally announced its 27 Commissioners for the upcoming mandate. The composition of the Commission offers a clear indication of what to expect over the next five years and will kickstart the legislative work of this mandate.

Crucially, the portfolio for Employment and Social Affairs has disappeared from the college, with no one Commissioner tasked with combating poverty, social security and workplace injustices in a simply unacceptable move. Additionally, the lack of a standalone Equality portfolio appears to show the priorities of a President claiming to place gender equality at the heart of her new college.

These changes will now widen the scope of work needed by trade unions across various DGs and cabinets, though it appears employment may fall under the remit of “People, Skills and Preparedness”.

"Working people need to see their priorities reflected in the direction of the European Union, not the needs of corporations. At a time where precariousness and scarcity dominates the daily experience of workers', it is unfathomable that Ursula von der Leyen would gut the role of employment and social affairs, while giving the reigns of Cohesion and Executive Vice-President to the far-right. This move must be reversed" - Eurocadres President Nayla Glaise

In addition, although Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected with the support of the Parliament's previous coalition (EPP, S&D, and RE), her College of Commissioners reflects the far-right shift taken by the European Parliament.

Indeed, despite the EPP (14), RE (5), and S&D (5) providing the most Commissioners, two of the Commission members are from far-right parties: Olivér Várhelyi (Hungary) and Raffaele Fitto (Italy). In an incredibly damaging move (and contrary to the soundings of the Commission President during her campaigning) the latter has been entrusted with a key portfolio in Cohesion and Reforms and has been named Executive Vice-President.

Thankfully, however, the S&D group has ensured that certain portfolios were prioritised (listed below), despite the general lack of left-wing presence within the Commission. Some reports suggest that the S&D was prepared to withdraw its support for certain EPP flagship policies if they were not awarded key portfolios.

As we heard throughout the fallout from the election campaign, the success of the EPP will not provide the group with complete control over the direction of the Commission's mandate, as far as other groups are concerned.

The S&D’s demands seem to have been heard, as two of their commissioners were also named Vice-Presidents. Teresa Ribera Rodríguez of Spain has been given broad responsibilities as Commissioner for a Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition.

Meanwhile, Romanian MEP Roxana Mînzatu was appointed as Commissioner for People, Skills, and Preparedness, a portfolio of particular interest to Eurocadres and our members. A member of Romania’s Social Democratic Party, Mînzatu is likely to focus her mandate on safeguarding workers’ and professionals’ rights across Europe.

Moreover, her appointment adds a left-wing dimension to Europe’s Economy and Social Affairs pillar. Despite concerns about right-wing gains in the European Parliament, both the Commission portfolio and the parliamentary committee will now be led by left-wing women — Mînzatu and Li Andersson of the Left Group.

While this provides us with a foothold within this crucial committee and potentially within this key portfolio, there is still a significant amount of work ahead to deliver results against the right-wing Parliament, we find ourselves at odds with. Eurocadres will provide a more detailed analysis when further details on the portfolios themselves have been made available.

Now we will move to the grilling of these commissioner designates by MEPs, where we will be working with colleagues in the Parliament to hold those proposed to us truly accountable.