European Commission President Urges for Gender Parity Amidst Male-Nominated Candidates
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has reiterated the necessity of gender diversity within the College of Commissioners, noting that women constitute half of the European population. Her remarks come in light of a concerning trend where the majority of EU governments have predominantly nominated male candidates for commissioner positions, despite her explicit request for balanced nominations.
At a recent press conference, Von der Leyen expressed her determination to achieve a gender-balanced commission, a goal that is increasingly being challenged. "If you don't ask, you don't get; it's not something that happens naturally," she stated, emphasizing the importance of actively advocating for diversity.
Von der Leyen outlined that the primary criteria for selecting future commissioners will be political and executive competence, including experience in national governments and diplomatic roles, or previous high positions in European institutions. Importantly, she underscored that diversity should also be a focal point in the composition of the commission. "We have to represent the citizens of the EU, and half of the EU are women," she stated firmly.
It was noted that in the absence of Von der Leyen's initial outreach, only four women were set to be appointed to the new commission compared to 21 men. This alarming statistic illustrates the significant impact of her efforts to raise awareness around the need for female representation. Her letter to the heads of government requesting nominations of women has been pivotal. Without it, she suggested, the conversation on diversity may not have even occurred.
To date, in addition to von der Leyen herself, only a few female candidates have been proposed, notably Spain's Vice President Teresa Ribera and Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who has taken on the role of high representative succeeding Josep Borrell. Only seven countries have nominated women thus far, with Bulgaria being the only country to meet her request of suggesting two candidates—one male and one female.
Despite facing a considerable challenge, von der Leyen remains in dialogue with EU capitals, hoping to encourage more governments to promote women for commissioner roles to bolster female representation in her cabinet. The previous commission ended with parity, although it started with an imbalance of 16 men to 11 women—a dynamic that underscores the ongoing struggle for gender equality within European governance.
Currently, von der Leyen has not fully reviewed all the candidates, yet she aims to present her proposals for the College of Commissioners to the European Parliament on September 11. Following this presentation, the European Parliament will have the opportunity to evaluate the nominations and can reject any potential candidates. Past instances show that this process can be contentious; for example, France and Hungary faced rejections during the previous legislature.
As of now, the Hungarian commissioner, Olivér Várhelyi, faces uncertainty regarding his future amid reported clashes with various political factions. If all goes as planned and the European Parliament approves the recommended candidates, the newly constituted European Commission is expected to commence its term on November 1. However, delays in the process may occur, depending on parliamentary discussions.
In her address, von der Leyen's commitment to gender equality echoes throughout her initiatives. The situation remains progressive but requires concerted effort from all member states to ensure the representation of women is reflected in the highest echelons of European governance.
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