Brussels Criticized for Male-Dominated EU Commission

Ursula von der Leyen, the first female president of the European Commission, is encountering significant challenges in her push for gender balance within the upcoming College of Commissioners. Despite her request for each EU member state to nominate one man and one woman for the 26-member team, the response has been overwhelmingly male, with 16 men nominated so far. If Denmark and Italy follow suit by nominating men, the proportion of male commissioners could rise to two-thirds, undermining von der Leyen's goal. Critics, including Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris, have pointed out that member states are only required to submit a single name, which complicates von der Leyen's efforts. The entire slate of commissioners must be approved by the European Parliament, where candidates will face scrutiny from Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) this fall. This raises the possibility that some male nominees could be rejected, particularly if the Parliament emphasizes gender balance during the hearings. Lina Gálvez, a Spanish MEP, expressed concern over the current situation, urging member states to comply with von der Leyen's request for dual nominations. The Parliament's internal rules highlight the importance of gender balance in evaluating candidates, prompting speculation about potential rejections of male nominees to rectify the imbalance. Germany’s Europe Minister, Anna Lührmann, echoed these sentiments, insisting that the new Commission should not become a "men’s committee." Advocacy groups, such as the European Women’s Lobby, have criticized the lack of female nominees, arguing it contradicts the EU's legal commitments to gender equality.