Ursula von der Leyen pushes for more women in EU leadership

Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, has been advocating for increased female representation among the new commissioners. Despite her efforts, only eight women have been nominated for the 27 commissioner positions. Initially, she reached out to EU member states, urging them to nominate both a man and a woman, but many states only nominated men. Following her intervention, the number of female candidates increased, demonstrating the importance of actively requesting diversity in leadership roles. The new European Commission is expected to start its five-year term on November 1, although there are discussions of a potential delay. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has invited von der Leyen to present her proposal for the new commission's composition on September 11. It remains uncertain whether von der Leyen will provide a complete list of candidates and their assigned portfolios during this meeting. Candidate commissioners are currently undergoing hearings by the European Parliament, where they are evaluated on their qualifications and policy plans. The timing for these hearings has not yet been established. Notably, the Dutch Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra is expected to transition to the Trade portfolio, as the Dutch cabinet has opted to re-nominate him without the requirement of nominating a female candidate. Von der Leyen's commitment to gender balance reflects her belief that the representation within the EU should mirror its demographic makeup, where women constitute half of the population. Her ongoing efforts highlight the challenges and importance of achieving gender parity in leadership positions within the European Union.