Slovenian Commissioner nominee meets von der Leyen in Brussels

In Brussels, Tomaž Vesel, the Slovenian nominee for European Commissioner, engaged in an introductory meeting with Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission. This meeting is part of von der Leyen's efforts to assemble her new team of commissioners. While the specifics of their discussion remain undisclosed, it is anticipated that they will have further conversations in the near future. Vesel, who previously served as the President of the Slovenian Court of Audit, has expressed interest in portfolios related to budget, administration, and EU enlargement. The ongoing selection process for the European Commission involves multiple rounds of discussions between von der Leyen and the candidates. Currently, 23 candidates have been identified, with a notable gender imbalance as 17 of them are men. This situation poses a challenge for von der Leyen, who aims to create a gender-balanced commission. Reports indicate that she is actively encouraging smaller member states to consider female candidates in place of their male nominees. The pressure to achieve gender balance is particularly relevant for countries like Malta and others, as von der Leyen seeks to fulfill her commitment to diversity within the Commission. The outcome of these discussions will significantly influence the composition and direction of the European Commission in the coming term. As the process unfolds, the focus will remain on how effectively von der Leyen can navigate the complexities of member state preferences while ensuring a more equitable representation of genders among the commissioners. The next steps in this selection process will be closely monitored by political analysts and stakeholders across Europe.