European Commission chief unveils new team amid mounting challenges

The new EU executive team faces challenges including wars in Gaza and Ukraine, migration, climate change, and economic competitiveness.

President Ursula von der Leyen has presented a long-awaited list of nominees to make up the next European Commission.

After long-winded, and often bad-tempered, negotiations with member states, von der Leyen presented her selections on Tuesday. The new European Union executive will lead the bloc for the next five years as it faces challenges including the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, migration, climate change, and economic competitiveness.

The appointees, over many of which there has been significant debate, must be confirmed by the European Parliament in a process that could extend to late October.

The “core priorities” of the new team were built around “prosperity, security, and democracy”, the president told reporters in Strasbourg.

“This happens against a backdrop of competitiveness that we need for the twin transition: the decarbonisation and digitalisation of our economies,” she said.