Von der Leyen offers smaller EU states bigger jobs if they nominate women

Commission president demands European capitals help her achieve a gender-balanced team of commissioners for her new administration

Ursula von der Leyen has offered perks to member states which nominate women to join her top team at the European Commission.
The Commission president has demanded European capitals help her achieve a gender-balanced team to lead her administration until 2029.
Her previous team of 27 European commissioners was made up of 12 women, including herself. Mrs von der Leyen had promised it would be the first to have gender parity.
Member states have so far named just six women and 16 men ahead of next month’s deadline for nominations.
Mrs von der Leyen has turned to offering smaller member states bigger jobs if they are willing to swap their male candidate for a woman, the Politico news website reported.
She made an approach to Malta to consider swapping its current candidate, Glenn Micallef, in exchange for a high-profile portfolio.
The Commission chief – the first woman to lead the institution – suggested keeping Malta’s existing commissioner, Helena Dalli, for a second term, the Times of Malta reported.
“Von der Leyen is probably promising us a better portfolio if we agree to renominate her,” a diplomat told the publication.
“If that’s the case, the government must decide: stand by our nominee and look strong but get a weaker portfolio. Or swap nominee, look weak but get a stronger brief.”
Ms Dalli had previously served as the EU’s equality commissioner, a low-profile position in Brussels.
“Dalli has had a borderline useless portfolio. She is easy for von der Leyen to control,” the diplomat added. “Having her for a second term would just ensure Malta is effectively irrelevant within the commission.”
Each commissioner is allocated a specific role by Mrs von der Leyen upon their appointment, with some jobs more influential than others.
Mrs von der Leyen’s offer could see smaller nations handed roles, such as the bloc’s finance or migration chief, that are traditionally given to the likes of Germany, France or Italy.
Capitals with less seniority are usually handed jobs where Brussels doesn’t have powers over its member states, such as health or social affairs.
Two other member states are reported to have been offered more senior roles in exchange for nominating female commissioners.
Ireland refused to nominate both a man and a woman when it selected Michael McGrath, Dublin’s former finance minister to be sent to Brussels.
Simon Harris, the Irish prime minister, said it would be “unfair” on the former minister to select a second candidate, because he had already stepped down from his domestic role when Mrs Von der Leyen requested a female nomination.
Micheal Martin, Ireland’s deputy prime minister, argued that Brussels had no legal rights within the EU’s governing treaties to demand that a woman is nominated.
Mrs von der Leyen has until Friday to deliver on her promise of a gender-balanced team of commissioners.
Only Sweden, Spain, Germany, Finland, Estonia and Croatia will be represented by female commissioners.
Failure to make good on the pledge would be an early defeat for her in the traditional power struggle between Brussels and member states.
Alberto Alemanno, an EU law professor, told Politico it would signal an “inability to impose her will on national capitals at the beginning of a new mandate”.
It could also trigger a battle for control with the European Parliament, with MEPs allowed a vote to finalise any commissioners.
The executive is then formally backed by EU leaders in the European Council.