European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made her first choice, with the key post of vice president for the economy going to Italy’s national-oriented candidate.
The re-elected von der Leyen will unveil her proposed cabinet after EU member states name their candidates on Friday.
Senior EU diplomats reported that the European Commission planned to hand Raffaele Fitto from the Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d’Italia, FdI) party the post of executive vice president in charge of the economy and pandemic recovery.
Italy was one of the last countries to appoint a commissioner, with the FdI being part of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Party.
Other EU vice presidents will include Valdis Dombrovskis (EPP) from Latvia, who is currently the EU’s trade chief. According to the report, his role will be to enlarge the EU and rebuild Ukraine.
France’s Thierry Breton (Renew), the bloc’s internal market commissioner, will assume sectoral and strategic autonomy, according to the source. Spain’s Environment Minister Teresa Ribera (S&D) has been chosen for the “transition” portfolio, which will include environmental and digital issues.
The candidate for EU foreign policy chief, outgoing Estonian leader Kaja Kallas (ALDE), will also be appointed executive vice president.
Each European member state nominated candidates for von der Leyen’s 26-member team. Maroš Šefčovič (S&D) from Slovakia, currently serving as executive vice president, intends to remain as commissioner in charge of inter-institutional affairs.
