According to an analysis of government announcements and local media reports, by August 30 14 men and 5 women were proposed as candidates by the deadline for submitting names to Brussels.
Four of the seven countries that have not yet submitted nominations – Belgium, Denmark, Lithuania and Romania – are expected to approve male candidates soon.
In Italy and Portugal, which have also not nominated candidates for European commissioners, the favorites for this post are men, while in Bulgaria the main candidate is a woman.
According to the British newspaper “The Guardian”, only 22-26% of the European Commission’s team can be this term. women, including U. von der Leyen herself. Thus, the gender balance will be worse than in the previous Commission, which started its work in 2019. and in which there were 44 percent women.
After being re-elected as the President of the European Commission, U. von der Leyen said that she would strive for an “equal share of men and women” to sit at the top officials’ table. However, this goal was put in jeopardy because member states ignored her request to nominate two candidates, a man and a woman.
Lina Galvez, chairwoman of the European Parliament’s gender equality committee, called on U. von der Leyen to insist that EU governments nominate female candidates for her.
“We will never achieve anything without pushing the boundaries, without applying pressure,” she told The Guardian newspaper. – Especially now, when movements against gender equality are the basis of fascist, anti-democratic movements. We cannot show that our commitment to gender equality is weak.”
The exception that caused outrage
The already difficult task of U. von der Leyen is complicated by the fact that governments that appoint a representative of the previous term to the position of European Commissioner are exempted from the nomination of a woman. Most of the politicians returning to the European Commission are men, and the only returning woman is Croatian Dubravka Šuica.
“Why should we have a woman again when our ideal candidate is a man and Slovakia can nominate Maroš Šefčovič for the fifth time,” said one EU diplomat, slightly exaggerating the situation for comic effect. Slovakia, which has never had a female commissioner, renominated Šefčovič for a fourth term.
Several EU leaders have said they have no intention of nominating a woman because there is no legal requirement to do so.
“We have respectfully and contractually decided to send one name,” Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said in June, confirming his intention to nominate Finance Minister Michael McGrath.
The request to present two candidates was opposed by many EU capitals, as the expensive post of European Commissioner is also part of the complex negotiations between ruling parties, prime ministers and presidents.
This week, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė called the process in her country “baroque complexity”, as her government announced its intention to send Andrii Kubilias to Brussels after fierce disputes over the post.
Those who don’t listen are at a disadvantage
Governments that reject von der Leyen’s call for gender balance may be given weaker portfolios rather than the “important economic work” that many governments seek.
“Each commissioner wants resources, money for policy execution, powers, competence, and this is not available to everyone,” said Sophia Russack, an analyst at the Center for European Policy Studies in Brussels.
“(In the European Commission – post-ed.) There are no 26 or 27 important portfolios,” Russack added, hinting that this could be a measure of leverage. — either you send me a woman or you get one of those briefcases nobody wants.'”
A male-dominated team at the top level would be a shameful setback for the EU’s gender equality strategy, which aims for 2020. was called for by 2024 by the end of the year, achieve a gender balance of 50% at all levels of management of the European Commission.
Experts say that a less gender-balanced Commission makes it more likely that the European Parliament will reject candidates for Commissioners. All candidates must appear before EP committees before the assembly can vote on the approval of the entire commission.
“One or the other will be targeted because of their suitability and because their government didn’t bother to nominate a woman,” said a second EU diplomat.
A spokesperson for the European Commission declined to comment on the candidates and the gender balance.
Painted clothes „The Guardian“ inf.
2024-08-27 07:15:33