Dear EFN members!

Who’s in? And who’s eying which job in the .

All countries have now appointed their Commissioners, but none of the jobs have been allocated yet. The nominations are as follows:

JOSE MANUEL BARROSO of Portugal will serve another term as President, and could construct a more dynamic, policy-driven role for himself. ’s , currently Energy Commissioner, will stay on and possibly in the same role. Health Commissioner from is said to be in line for the first post of Fundamental Rights Commissioner. from will remain for a second term, and is rumored to stay in the area she has been in the past 5 years, being given the new 'Digital' portfolio, with the addition of some internal market responsibilities, for example, on copyright. Slovenian JANEZ POTOČNIK, currently Science and Research Commissioner is also rumored to keep his current job. ’s Enlargement Commissioner, , will stay on but it’s unclear in which job. Estonian, , stays on as Vice-President as Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud. ’s , current Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner will stay on, though given the fact that another Belgian has become president of the Council, de Gucht might end up with a “lighter” post. Spain’s JOAQUÌN ALMUNIA, currently Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner hopes to stay on in that position. Lithuanian ALGIRDAS SEMETA, Financial Programming and Budget Commissioner will likely retain the budget portfolio. Italian , a Vice-President, may be reappointed and reportedly wants to keep his transport dossier. today secured the Dutch government's backing for a second term as . This final nomination is expected to guarantee The Netherlands a heavyweight portfolio in the new Commission.

New Commissioners will include Germany’s candidate, GÜNTHER OETTINGER, currently first minister for Baden-Württemberg who is said to be eyeing one of the three powerful economic posts: Enterprise and Industry or Economic Affairs. France’s , a newly elected MEP and former Minister for Agriculture and former Commissioner, is rumored to be in line for the Internal Market and Services remit. Sweden’s CECILIA MALMSTRÖM, currently European Affairs minister, is rumored to have been put forward for the Transport portfolio currently lead by Tadjani, an area which is expected to see a lot of legislation in light of the EU climate targets. ’s , an MEP, has been put forward and the Poles have targeted one of the big economic posts of Enterprise and Industry, Economic Affairs or Internal Market. Hungary’s LÁSZLÓ ANDOR is a new appointee and his projected portfolio is unclear. has appointed , Science and Research Minister, and he is eying the Research post. MAIRE GEOGHEGAN QUINN, is the candidate from Ireland and her current job as Member of the European Court of Auditors makes her a likely candidate for Budget Commissioner. The Czech has put forward ŠTEFAN FÜLE, Minister for European Affairs said to be targeting the Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities portfolio. Bulgarian Foreign Minister, RUMIANA JELEVA, has been put forward and is eyeing Mr Piebalgs’ energy portfolio. Romanian, DACIAN CIOLOŞ, former Agriculture Minister is hoping for the Agriculture dossier. Slovakian, MAROS ŠEFČOVIČ, is Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the EU and the portfolio he may get is unclear. 's Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has nominated its Climate and Energy Minister to become Denmark's next European commissioner. Her nomination follows the Greek government’s announcement of for European commissioner. Damanaki, a chemical engineer by training is said to be interested in Culture or Education dossiers. Today, Malta's Prime Minister nominated , Minister for Social Policy, to be the country's next member of the European Commission.

What does it all mean? And what’s next?

Even before the jobs are divided up, a number of observations can be made. First, the new Commission will be more centre right than the previous one, with at least 13 of the 27 Commissioners expected to come from the centre-right – up from 10 in Barroso 1. Second, the number of women in the new College of Commissioners will decrease. Barroso 1 had 10 female Commissioners, but only 9 nominations for Barroso II are women. A lower or equivalent amount of women may not be well received in the Parliament, especially as President Barosso had been urged to increase the number.

Third, there will be changes and innovations in portfolios. There will most probably be a new Digital Commissioner - dealing with technology and related issues. Another possible innovation will be the creation of a Directorate – but most likely not a Directorate-general - for . But may also be a Climate Change Commissioner, though some believe this would create too many overlapping responsibilities with other Commissioners. Rumour has it that the Energy and Transport Directorate-General will be split into two separate DGs – each, as before, with its own Commissioner.

In the next few days, President Barroso will begin the task of matching the skills set of nominees, with the jobs and Directorates-general in the Commission. Invariably this will lead to frictions and disappointments, with some countries vying for, but not getting, the most heavy-weight jobs in the Commission.

New this year is the fact that there are more perceived heavy-weight responsibilities to divide. Energy, Transport, Research, Digital, Justice, Social Affairs and Fundamental Rights are now considered as important as the traditional top positions: Competition, Internal Market, Enterprise and Industry, Economic Affairs or Foreign Affairs.

Hearings in the Committees are set to start on 11 January, with an approval vote set for 20 January for the entire Commission. The Parliament can of course reject the entire Commission, but not individual Commissioners. The latest news from the Parliament is that they have already sharpened their knives for one or two of the nominees, choosing to focus on past misdemeanors, but also lack of experience in the policy areas they are to lead. As in previous Parliamentary hearings, this may mean some delays. In the meantime, nominated Commissioners are already seeking personnel for their cabinets in order to be ready to move swiftly when the College takes office in early/mid February as expected.

Hope this is helpful!