Next Commission Continues To Take Shape As Austria Nominates Fin Min

The Austrian governing coalition has put forward Finance Minister Magnus Brunner from the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) to be the country's next European Commissioner. The selection of Brunner is seen by observers as an effort to secure one of the prestigious finance/economy portfolios. Several other members have also put forward candidates with economic experience with an eye on securing these influential posts.

• The candidates for President Ursula von der Leyen's second Commission are stacking up. Those set to return to the Commission are: France's Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton (RE), Latvia's Exec VP for An Economy that Works for People and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis (EPP), Dutch Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra (EPP), Slovakia's Exec VP for the European Green Deal and for Interinstitutional Relations Maroš Šefčovič (S&D, suspended), and Hungary's Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi (PfE).
• New candidates are: Czechia's Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Síkela (EPP), Austrian Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (EPP), Estonian former PM Kaja Kallas (RE), Finnish MEP Henna Virkkunen (EPP), Ireland's former Finance Minister Michael McGrath (RE), former President of Slovenia's Court of Audit Tomaž Vesel (Ind.), Spain's Third Deputy PM Teresa Ribera (S&D), and Sweden's Minister for EU Affairs Jessika Roswall (EPP). and former Chief of Staff to the Maltese PM Glen Micallef (S&D).
• Each Commissioner candidate, whether new or returning, will hold hearings with the relevant European Parliament committee in September before a vote on the entire College of Commissioners, which then requires approval by a QMV in Council.