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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has selected Cyprus' Kostas Kadis as the next Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans. Announcing the decision today, von der Leyen praised Kadis, saying, "I count on his experience to help build a resilient, competitive, and sustainable sector and present the first European Oceans Pact."
Von der Leyen revealed her new team and the structure of the European Commission during a presentation to the European Parliament. This announcement highlights her priorities for the next five years, focusing on key issues such as defense, Mediterranean policy, and competitiveness—an approach that marks a shift from her previous focus on the Green Deal.
However, the process remains partially delayed due to political disagreements in Slovenia, which has yet to approve its nominee, Marta Kos. The country faces internal political opposition that is demanding the release of a letter von der Leyen sent to the Slovenian prime minister requesting a female candidate to ensure gender balance in the Commission. Slovenia has until September 24 to resolve the issue, but the delay means that formal hearings for all commissioner candidates, including Cyprus' Kadis, cannot proceed until the matter is settled.
Von der Leyen originally planned to present her team on September 11 but postponed the announcement to give Slovenia more time. Despite the delay, she pushed ahead with the overall reveal today, showcasing her political power after recent tensions. One key moment involved the resignation of French Commissioner Thierry Breton, who withdrew after reported pressure from von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron. His replacement, Macron ally Stéphane Séjourné, has been criticized for "political bargaining."
In balancing political power within the new Commission, von der Leyen has assigned key roles to major European political groups. Latvia’s Valdis Dombrovskis (European People's Party), Spain’s Teresa Ribera (Social Democrats), France’s Stéphane Séjourné (Liberals), and Italy’s Raffaele Fitto (Conservatives) are expected to hold influential positions. Fitto's appointment has already faced opposition from various political groups.
Many of the new commissioners come from von der Leyen’s own political group, the European People’s Party (EPP), as it holds a numerical advantage in the European Council.
Despite the Slovenian delay, von der Leyen is pushing for formal hearings for the commissioners to begin by mid-October, aiming for the new Commission to take office on November 1. If further delays occur, the new team may not start until December 1.
Von der Leyen also named six executive vice presidents as part of her team, solidifying her leadership for the next five years in the European Commission.
