Former diplomat Marta Kos has been named as Slovenia’s new European Commissioner nominee after the original candidate, Tomaž Vesel, dropped out of the race. Ursula von der Leyen, the Commission chief, had urged the Slovenian government to replace their male candidate with a female, as part of a push for gender parity in the next college of Commissioners. Slovenia’s deputy prime minister Matej Arčon announced that Kos had been unanimously approved by the government. This move came after most EU governments ignored von der Leyen’s request for two candidates, one male and one female, despite her efforts to ensure more female representation in the next commission.
Slovenia joins Romania in retracting their male candidates in favor of a woman, with pressure from the Commission resulting in Portugal and Belgium also opting for female candidates. Despite this, there are currently 17 men and 10 women in the running for the 26 open spots. While this ratio does not achieve full gender parity, it marks a significant improvement from the initial roster of candidates that emerged in August. Kos’s nomination comes just days before von der Leyen is set to present her proposed team structure to the European Parliament, including the policy portfolios each member will lead. Diplomatic sources suggest that countries nominating female candidates may be rewarded with more ambitious policy portfolios.
Kos, who previously served as Slovenia’s Ambassador to Germany, Latvia, and Switzerland, brings the senior diplomatic experience that von der Leyen is seeking in her team. The Commission chief has emphasized the importance of competence in her selections, highlighting the need for high-ranking political or executive experience, senior diplomatic experience, or significant work within the European institutions. Von der Leyen’s efforts to encourage member states to nominate women has been met with some success, with several countries changing their original male nominees to women under pressure from the Commission.
The push for gender parity in the next college of Commissioners reflects von der Leyen’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within the EU institutions. By advocating for more female candidates, she aims to create a more representative and balanced leadership team that can effectively steer the executive’s work over the next five years. The decision to nominate Marta Kos as Slovenia’s European Commissioner nominee demonstrates the government’s willingness to adapt to von der Leyen’s recommendations and prioritize gender equality in their selection process. As von der Leyen prepares to unveil the proposed structure of her new team, all eyes are on the composition of the next college of Commissioners and the impact of increased female representation on EU policymaking.
