European Parliament resolves standoff over commissioner appointments
The three major pro-European factions in the European Parliament have ended their standoff over the approval of seven remaining commissioners. The agreement, reached after a week of heated negotiations, ensures the new European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen can begin its term on 1 December, pending a confidence vote next week.
The dispute centred on three contentious appointments, which the EPP, S&D, and Renew parties were resistant to back. The EPP ultimately dropped its opposition to Spanish socialist Teresa Ribera, who will now take on the role of executive vice-president for “clean, just and competitive transition”.
In exchange, the S&D agreed to approve Italian Rafaelle Fitto, a controversial figure from Giorgia Meloni's far-right Fratelli d’Italia party, who will oversee cohesion policy as an executive vice-president.
Hungarian nominee Oliver Varhelyi, a close ally of prime minister Viktor Orbán, also received the green light but with a scaled-down portfolio. While retaining responsibility for animal welfare and health, Varhelyi relinquished oversight of sexual and reproductive health rights, as well as health crisis preparedness and management.
These powers have been transferred to Belgian commissioner Hadja Lahbib of the Renew group, who will also handle humanitarian aid, equality and crisis management.
To smooth over tensions, the three political groups signed a declaration committing to cooperation over the next five years. The statement, pushed by the S&D, called for shared priorities such as upholding European values, supporting Ukraine and protecting the rule of law. However, the document is not legally binding, leaving some social democrats sceptical about its long-term significance.
The social democrats, in particular, remain wary. Recent voting patterns have seen the EPP align with far-right groups to form majorities, raising concerns about the stability of pro-European alliances. Despite these doubts, the agreement represents a step forward, allowing the new Commission to focus on its ambitious agenda without further delay when all eyes will be on the European Parliament's confidence vote on 1 December.
Janez Lenarcic and Hadja Lahbib at a European Union Foreign Affairs Council at EU headquarters in Brussels, 18 November 2024 © PHOTO OLIVIER MATTHYS / POOL / AFP
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