Friday

29th Sep 2023

Barroso unlikely to get more women in next commission

  • Dutchwoman Neelie Kroes, in charge of competition, has arguably the strongest portfolio in the commission (Photo: European Commission)

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Thursday (12 November) admitted he is unlikely to achieve his aim of getting more women commissioners in the next commission than is currently the case.

To date it is clear that only three member states - Luxembourg, which is returning commissioner Viviane Reding; Cyprus, which is returning EU Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou; and Bulgaria, which is sending current foreign minister Rumiana Jeleva - have proposed women candidates despite several public requests, including a letter, by Mr Barroso.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

This number may rise to eight if Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, the UK and Greece all nominate women as they have been rumoured to be considering.

But it is unlikely to surpass the current count, where eight of the 27 commissioners are women, itself down from a high of ten, before two left to take up other posts.

Mr Barroso on Thursday set the bar as low as possible by comparing the situation to that of the member states themselves, among whom there is just one head of government (German Chancellor Angela Merkel ) and two heads of state (Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite and her Finnish counterpart, Tarja Halonen).

"I think we'll get something better than the European Council - that I'm sure - but unfortunately I think we are not going to get to the position that I desire of a more balanced - in terms of gender - commission."

The issue also reflects the basic limits of Mr Barroso's position. While he may choose what portfolio a commissioner will have - itself something that can be used to try and persuade governments to send competent people to Brussels - he cannot simply choose a commissioner.

"I have also to work on this matter with the governments. I cannot impose on a concrete government that that government sends me a female candidate. And I cannot refuse a good competent commissioner just because he is a man either."

Around 22 member states have told Mr Barroso whom their intended commissioner is to be, including Germany, who has proposed the premier of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Guenter Oettinger; Austria, who has suggested research minister Johannes Hahn; and the Czech Republic, which will be sending Europe minister Stefan Füle.

The actual distribution of portfolios will be begin only when it is clear who will become the first EU foreign minister, set to be decided next week, as this person will also be vice-president of the commission, taking the country concerned out of the portfolio equation.

But even when this part of the "puzzle" is in place, the new commission - delayed by problems of ratification of the new Lisbon Treaty - is not expected to be on its feet for several weeks.

EU commissioners, whose mandate ran out on 31 October, have been warned that they may have to stay in their caretaker role until end of January 2010.

This is because the new batch of commissioners have to make it through hearings in parliament. Mr Barroso is said to be anxious that members of his team do not fall at the first parliamentary hurdle, with MEPs already sharpening their knives in preparation for taking on weak would-be commissioners.

Poland's culture of fear after three years of abortion 'ban'

Poland in 2020 imposed a near-total ban on abortion, triggering mass protests — and today the demands for access to safe abortion continue. On International Safe Abortion Day, dozens gathered in Brussels calling for solidarity among member states.

Opinion

Time for a reset: EU regional funding needs overhauling

Vasco Alves Cordeiro, president of the European Committee of the Regions, is advocating a revamp of the EU's regional policy so that it better supports all regions in addressing major challenges such as the green and digital transitions.

EU Ombudsman warns of 'new normal' of crisis decision-making

Emily O'Reilly cited the post-pandemic recovery funds, the windfall taxes on energy companies, and the joint purchase of vaccines, as procedures which received limited scrutiny from the national parliaments — as a result of emergency decision-making powers that bypassed parliament.

Opinion

How do you make embarrassing EU documents 'disappear'?

The EU Commission's new magic formula for avoiding scrutiny is simple. You declare the documents in question to be "short-lived correspondence for a preliminary exchange of views" and thus exempt them from being logged in the official inventory.

Opinion

Time for a reset: EU regional funding needs overhauling

Vasco Alves Cordeiro, president of the European Committee of the Regions, is advocating a revamp of the EU's regional policy so that it better supports all regions in addressing major challenges such as the green and digital transitions.

Opinion

How do you make embarrassing EU documents 'disappear'?

The EU Commission's new magic formula for avoiding scrutiny is simple. You declare the documents in question to be "short-lived correspondence for a preliminary exchange of views" and thus exempt them from being logged in the official inventory.

Latest News

  1. Poland's culture of fear after three years of abortion 'ban'
  2. Time for a reset: EU regional funding needs overhauling
  3. Germany tightens police checks on Czech and Polish border
  4. EU Ombudsman warns of 'new normal' of crisis decision-making
  5. How do you make embarrassing EU documents 'disappear'?
  6. Resurgent Fico hopes for Slovak comeback at Saturday's election
  7. EU and US urge Azerbijan to allow aid access to Armenians
  8. EU warns of Russian 'mass manipulation' as elections loom

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
  2. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  3. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  4. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch
  6. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  2. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  3. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics
  6. EFBWWEFBWW calls for the EC to stop exploitation in subcontracting chains

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us