The governments of the European Union member states will each have to present two candidates – one woman and one man – for the positions of European Commissioners, announced Ursula von der Leyen, freshly reelected on Thursday by the European Parliament to lead the EU executive.
An exception to this rule will be made if a state wishes to keep its commissioner in office.
Overall, however, gender parity will have to be aimed for within the future Commission, informs APA.
However, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu clearly opted to send a man to Brussels.
"After two ladies, I think we will propose a man. I repeat, twice Romania came with two proposals for a commissioner, ladies. I think this time, Romania can make a proposal for a gentleman," stated Marcel Ciolacu, two days ago.
European sources told SpotMedia.ro that Romania's proposal is expected to be Victor Negrescu, current Member of the European Parliament and Vice President of the EP.
When will the new Commission be voted on
Once von der Leyen forms her team of commissioners, they will be auditioned by the European Parliament in the fall.
Prior to that, the EP's Committee on Legal Affairs will check the financial interests declarations and any potential conflicts of interest of the commissioner candidates.
The relevant committees will subsequently vote on individual candidacies, although the European Parliament can only approve or reject the Commission as a whole.
The vote in Parliament on the entire commission could take place, according to the plan, in September. This would pave the way for von der Leyen's second commission to take office on November 1, as planned, adds APA.