The European Union must “show boys and girls” that leadership means men and women “leading together”, says Margrethe Vestager.
Outgoing European Commission Vice-President Margrethe Vestager has criticised EU governments for undermining Ursula von der Leyen’s efforts to build a gender-balanced College of Commissioners.
The capitals ignored the Commission President’s explicit request to governments to propose a male and female candidate in order to give her room to manoeuvre to find the right balance.
“Unfortunately, this exposes the lack of efforts in terms of equal opportunities and gender balance.“, said Margrethe Vestager, whose voice is particularly strong after a decade as European Commissioner, during an interview with Euronews on Monday.
She spoke hours after the latest commissioner nomination was announced by Belgium, which proposed Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib.
“Ursula von der Leyen asked for something that is completely legitimate: give me two candidates, one man and one woman, and I will compose my Commission in such a way that there is a gender balance and that people have the necessary skills.“, adds the Danish official.”I think it is a real shame that the Member States are not following this path.“.
Of the 25 member states that had been invited to present candidates, only one country – Bulgaria – responded to Ursula von der Leyen’s request by nominating two candidates.
Eight countries have nominated women candidates, meaning that only ten (37%) of the names selected to form the next executive are women. Two positions have already been filled: Ursula von der Leyen, who represents Germany as president, and Estonian Kaja Kallas, who was nominated by European leaders in June to become the EU’s next High Representative for Foreign Policy.
Von der Leyen is expected to hand over the political portfolios to the candidates in the coming weeks. They will each undergo a hearing before the European Parliament, followed by a confirmation vote before being installed in their respective roles.
Ursula von der Leyen is said to have made last-minute efforts to convince some member states to replace their male candidates with women, offering a more attractive political portfolio to those who comply. Romania became the first country to change its candidate on Monday, fielding MEP Roxana Mînzatu at the expense of Victor Negrescu.
“We were making progress”
Margrethe Vestager has built a reputation as an antitrust enforcer in Brussels, imposing heavy fines on the world’s largest companies that abuse their dominant position in the European market.
She has also become a thorn in the side of big tech companies, helping to craft an unprecedented digital regulation – the Digital Services Act – and the world’s first regulation to put in place safeguards around artificial intelligence.
His achievements earned him a place on TIME magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.
She told Euronews that she regretted the lack of sufficient women appointed in the EU executive’s efforts to show that a gender-balanced Commission is capable of doing unprecedented work.
“It is a simple act of fairness that both sexes participate in leadership.“, underlines Margrethe Vestager.
“You need all the talent you can get, and you also need different life experiences to be reflected within the Commission.” she adds. “And you have to show boys and girls that this is what leadership looks like: men and women leading together.“.
Margrethe Vestager leaves the door open to a return to public life after the end of her term.
She hopes that her “ambitions“for Europe could still”find an outlet“After leaving the Commission, the institution’s ethical rules impose strict restrictions after the Commissioner’s term of office.
“I think that the geopolitics of this world should encourage Europe to engage more in the world around us.“, she explains, “so there are a lot of things i would like to work with“.
