Die Welt-Italy To Get Top Economy Post In New Commission

Die Welt reporting that Italy's European Commission nominee, European Affairs Minister Raffaele Fitto, is set to be given a senior role within President Ursula von der Leyen's next Commission, that of Executive Vice President responsible for the economy and COVID recovery portfolios.

• If confirmed Fitto, hailing from Italian PM Giorgia Meloni's national conservative Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, will become the first Exec VP from the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) political group.
• VdL is set to announce the full line-up of commissioners and their portfolios by end-week. Die Welt reports that she will have four exec VPs. In addition to Fitto, these will be Latvian Valdis Dombrovskis (EPP, EU Enlargement & Ukraine), Spain's Teresa Ribera (S&D, 'Transition), and Estonia's Kaja Kallas (RE) as High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
• The other major portfolios are due to go to the Netherlands' Wopke Hoekstra (EPP, Trade), France's Thierry Breton (RE, Industry and Strategic Autonomy), and Czechia's Josef Sikela (EPP, Energy) according to the report.
• Two commissioners will be directly assigned to VdL due to the prominence of their portfolios. Die Welt reports these will be: Slovakia's Maros Sefcovic (NI, 'Reducing Bureaucracy and Interinstitutional Issues) and Poland's Piotr Serafin (N/A, Budget).
• After the nominations, the candidates will face scrutiny from their portfolio's relevant European Parliament committee, after which a single vote is taken on the entire College of Commissioners. Unsatisfactory performances are more likely to lead to a candidate withdrawing rather than risk the entire college be voted down.