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The European Commission's first team under Ursula von der Leyen for the 2019-2024 term has had a tumultuous and significant five years. As Europe navigated crises like the war in Ukraine, the ongoing energy shortage, the pandemic, and challenges related to climate change and artificial intelligence, Politico has rated each of the commissioners on their performance.
Cypriot Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, received an impressive A- rating. Politico highlights her efforts in shaping EU health policy, including significant reforms in drug evaluations, strengthening the medicines regulator, and advancing the integration of EU health data. Kyriakides is credited with launching a major overhaul of pharmaceutical rules and leading the EU's response to the COVID pandemic, including revising the rules governing medicines and disease agencies. Her initiatives in mental health and cancer also garnered praise. However, experts noted that her legacy was somewhat limited, with criticisms over rising vaccine hesitancy and a lack of progress on tobacco legislation, which prevented her from achieving a more substantial impact on public health policy.
Margaritis Schinas, the Vice President for Promoting the European Way of Life, was rated B-. His primary focus was on migration policy, where he successfully delivered a migration pact that had been under discussion for nearly a decade. However, some countries still called for further changes, indicating that the Migration Pact did not fully meet expectations. Schinas’ efforts were key to advancing EU migration discussions, but the criticism that more work was needed left his rating slightly lower.
In comparison, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, earned a B- as well. While she transformed from an unknown figure to one of the EU's strongest leaders, Politico noted her handling of crises like the pandemic and the war in Ukraine significantly boosted her public image. However, her centralized approach to decision-making and some of her controversial choices drew criticism, reflecting in her slightly below-average grade.
Other significant figures, such as Margrethe Vestager (Competition Commissioner), Vera Jourova (Vice-President for Values and Transparency), and Violeta Bulc (Transport Commissioner), received solid grades, with some like Margrethe Vestager earning an A- for her impactful work. On the other hand, Hungarian Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, responsible for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, received the worst rating with an F, due to his biased approach to Ukraine’s EU membership and controversial statements regarding aid to Palestinian territories.
In summary, while the European Commission's team has been tested by extraordinary global challenges, Kyriakides and Schinas have stood out for their policy work, though not without criticism, reflecting the complexity and scrutiny of their roles in shaping EU policies during a turbulent period.
Source: Politico
