site.btaUrsula von der Leyen Says There Will Be Over 10 Women in Next EU Commission

The next European Commission is expected to have at least ten women, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a news briefing in Brussels Wednesday. The number of women has reached a two-digit figure, she said.

Early on in the selection process it seemed that women would number no more than four, she said. She said she is aware that it is not always easy to find sufficiently prepared candidates.

Bulgaria has put forward two nominations: of Ekaterina Zaharieva, a former Foreign Minister, who was proposed by GERB-UDF, and of Julian Popov, a former Environment Minister, who was proposed by Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria.

She said it is most important for the commissioners to be competent. That is why prime ministers, government ministers or deputy ministers, high-ranking diplomats or senior officials in the EU institutions make good commission candidates, she said.

Von der Leyen reasoned that half of the EU citizens are women and it is important to achieve gender parity in the new Commission which secures equality in terms of geography and political affiliation. 

She said she has not spoken to all nominees.

Ursula von der Leyen is expected to put forward her proposal for structure and composition of the Commission at a closed-door meeting of the European Parliament. In October the proposed commissioners will be interviewed by the EP and the line-up will be put to a vote. The new Commission is expected to start work before December.

The current Commission has 24 commissioners, including 11 women.