December Issue
Stanimir Stoyanov
December
December marks the beginning of a new five-year mandate of the European Commission. In June 2024, Europeans headed to the polls to elect their representatives in the European Parliament, tasked with voting in a new European Commission. On Nov. 27 Members of the European Parliament voted in a new Commission headed by Ursula von der Leyen. As the executive branch of the European Union, the Commission is one of the most important political bodies in the world. Despite its critical role, it remains relatively unfamiliar to the general public. So, this prompts the question, why is the European Commission important?
The power of the European Commission
The European Commission holds the majority of executive power within the EU. Its functions are to propose legislation based on parliamentary resolutions, enforce EU Regulations and manage the Union’s day-to-day affairs. Put simply, it steers the ship, which carries around 450 million citizens from 27 member states. The Commission's main jurisdiction is regarding trade agreements and environmental policies, which are considered collective European efforts. The Commission's decisions are detrimental on both the European and global stage. It is even responsible for the small things in our everyday lives, such as bottle caps being attached to plastic bottles or Apple being forced to change its charging cables to the universal Type-C. With political instability prevalent in many member states, more significantly in France and Germany, the Commission holds an increasingly important role in European unity.
The New European Commission
The Commission comprises one member for each of the 27 member states, including six Executive Vice-Presidents. Following this year's EU elections, the European Parliament faced the task of selecting a new Commission President. On July 18, Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected to continue her presidency. Despite a Parliament with more left-leaning MEPs than before, von der Leyen secured her position, albeit with a narrower margin of approval compared to her first term. Meanwhile, the Commission she proposed in November reflected a noticeable shift toward the center-right, with strong representation from the European People’s Party and other conservative groups, echoing the political turbulence seen across EU member states.
However, the composition of her new team reflects both continuity and change, with a reshuffled College of Commissioners aiming to tackle pressing issues such as digital transformation, climate policy and industrial competitiveness.
These are the new Collage’s six Executive Vice-Presidents, each overseeing critical policy areas:
Teresa Ribera Rodríguez (Spain) – Leading the EU's Green Deal efforts for a just and competitive transition.
Henna Virkkunen (Finland) – Focused on digital sovereignty and technological innovation.
Stéphane Séjourné (France) – Tasked with revitalizing European industry and the single market.
Roxana Mînzatu (Romania) – Overseeing education, skills, and social policies.
Raffaele Fitto (Italy) – Managing cohesion policy and regional development.
Kaja Kallas (Estonia) – Serving as Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs
Prospects and implications of the new European Commission
Before being voted in as President of the new Commission, Ursula von der Leyen addressed the European Parliament, outlining her plans and goals for the next five years. Her key priorities include advancing climate neutrality targets, promoting technological sovereignty and strengthening the EU’s influence on the global stage. A central theme of her speech was the Commission’s firm stance against Russia, bolstered by strong critics like former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, now serving as High Representative for Foreign Affairs. This is a continuation of current EU politics when it comes to dealing with Russia, with an even tougher emphasis on support for Ukraine.
The Commission also aims to bolster the EU's defense sector by increasing spending and investments. The task of delicately balancing economic growth with environmental commitments has been entrusted to France’s Stéphane Séjourné and Spain’s Teresa Ribera Rodríguez. In addition, the EU is working to achieve greater economic independence, particularly in light of proposed tariffs from the incoming U.S. president. This reflects a broader effort to reduce reliance on external actors for innovation and economic stability. Additionally, von der Leyen has proposed stricter migration policies, emphasizing increased deportation measures, following demands from many national governments for a tougher EU-wide stance on the matter.
Is it really a “new” Commission?
Some have voiced critical opinions of the new Commission, arguing that it represents more continuity than change. The approach of appealing to a wide political spectrum by providing broad and vague commitments has led to concerns that the Commission’s agenda lacks the required innovation to tackle emerging challenges effectively. This Commission was voted in with the lowest level of support ever, which is raising concerns about political stability on the European level. While such factors, coupled with the same President’s face suggest a continuation of existing policies, the College choices hint at a lean to the right in European politics.
We are now at the beginning of the new 2024-2029 European Union mandate, with the future being as uncertain as ever, the new Commission has the important task of representing the European people and fulfilling its duties faced by both internal and external hardships. While its plans appear promising on paper, only time will reveal whether it can achieve its ambitious goals. What is clear, however, is that during a time of deep polarization within Member States, the Commission plays a vital role in maintaining cohesion among Europeans while advancing the EU’s global ambitions.