POTENTIAL THEMATIC CLUSTERS FOR THE NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION

MEPs have suggested “the establishment of a system of Vice-Presidents of the Commission with responsibilities over major thematic clusters and with competences to coordinate the work of the Commission in the corresponding areas” as a potential option.

Redistributing Commission portfolios into thematic clusters is challenging, given the overlaps between different policy areas. The structure of the Commission should also mirror the overarching challenges of the EU, such as low growth, social divergence or the continuing need to reform and govern the Eurozone.

A LOOK AT THE BACKGROUND OF 5 COMMISSION NOMINEES

CROATIA (AN ECONOMIST 61 Years Old)

POTENTIAL COMMISSION NOMINEES BY MEMBER STATES

The President of the Commission is the central figure in the selection of the new College. His or her election affects the negotiations both on the allocation of portfolios and choice of commissioners (the latter task being formally shared with national leaders, the former also being an issue on which prime ministers exert an influence).

27 Commissioners jobs to be filled. Slovakia, Estonia, Malta, Croatia, Latvia have already submitted their Nominees.

Among the potential contenders:

AUSTRIA (3)

NEW EFD GROUP FORMED IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

A New Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) political group has been formed in the European Parliament. It includes 48 MEPs (6.39% of the total number of MEPs) from the United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Latvia and France.

Delegations

CHOOSING EU COMMISSIONERS

Theoretically, each member state is free to appoint its own candidate, the portfolio of which is negotiated with the Commission President. The European Parliament holds confirmation hearings and votes on each nominee.

Choosing an EU Commissioner

KEY DATES FOR EU LEADERSHIP

26-27 June 2014

The European Council will meet in Brussels on 26-27 June 2014. First order of business will be to reach agreement on the new President of the European Commission. The successful candidate must garner the backing of a qualified majority (55% of the vote in the Council and at the same time represent 65% of the European electorate). Once the agreement is reached the selected candidate will then be officially proposed to the European Parliament for confirmation.

1st July 2014

NEWS UPDATE OF POLITICAL GROUPS IN THE EP

RETURNING MEPs

342 MEPs out of 751 (45.5% are Returning MEPs.  Germany 66 out of 96 (68.8%), Luxembourg 4 out of  6 (66.7%), Croatia 7 out of 11 (63.6%), Belgium 12 out of 21 (57%), Romania 18 out of 32 (56.3%), United Kingdom 40 out of 73 (54.8%), Austria 9 out of 18 (50%), France 37 out of 74 (50%), Latvia 4 out of 8 (50%), Malta 3 out of 6 (50%), Slovenia 4 out of 8 (50%), Sweden (10 out of 20 (50%), Denmark 6 out of 13 (46.2%), Netherlands 12 out of 26 (46.2%), Finland 6 out of 13 (46.2%), Slovakia 6 out of 13 (46.2%), Lithuania 5 out 11 (45.5%), Ireland 5 out of 11 (45.5%), Poland 22 out of 51 (43.1%

NEWCOMERS IN THE S&D GROUP OF THE EP

Out of the 191 seats of the S&D Group in the European Parliament 108 seats (56.54%) will be occupied by Newcomers. The largest contingent of Newcomers is from Italy (23) followed by the UK (12), Germany (10), Romania (10), Spain (8) and France (7)

Here below is the breakdown of Newcomers by Member States:

AUSTRIA (1)

  1. Eugen Freund

BELGIUM (2)

  1. Marie Arena
  2. Hughes Bayet

BULGARIA (3)

NEWCOMERS IN THE EPP GROUP OF THE EP

Out of the 221 seats of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, 79 seats (35.75%) will be occupied by Newcomers. More than half of the Newcomers are from Italy (8), Poland (8), Romania (8), Czech Republic (7) and France (7).

Here below is the breakdown of Newcomers by Member States:

AUSTRIA (1 )

  1. Claudia Schmidt (ÖVP, City Council of Salzburg, responsible for urban planning

BELGIUM ( 2)

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