VDL’s ‘gender-balanced’ Commission

What’s driving the day in Brussels.
By EDDY WAX
with ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH
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GOOD FRIDAY MORNING. This is Eddy Wax, with my final Playbook of the summer before I head off for a couple of weeks, leaving you in Nick Vinocur’s capable hands for Monday’s newsletter. Why not start the morning with a cuppa and our news quiz?
THE IMAGE OF THE EU IN 2024 — 16 MEN; 6 WOMEN: The European Commission’s first-ever female president is being forced to watch on as governments flatly ignore her request that they each nominate a man and a woman for her 26-person team.
Do the math: As things stand, countries have put forward 16 men for posts in Ursula von der Leyen’s next College of Commissioners, the executive team that projects the image of the European Union to the world. That’s compared to just five women (including von der Leyen herself) — or six if you include Spain’s expected pick Teresa Ribera, who is yet to be officially nominated. (Full list here.)
Going backward: When von der Leyen chaired the first meeting of her College back in 2019, there were 15 men and 12 women around the table (and the gender balance improved over the course of her first term).
+2 dudes: Two nominations Thursday tipped the scales further: Romania confirmed it would nominate Victor Negrescu, then Luxembourg put forward Christophe Hansen.
Man … spreading: If Denmark and Italy name men, as they are heavily rumored to be planning to do, it would guarantee that two-thirds of the EU’s 27 commissioners will be male.
WOMEN SPEAK UP: Though the Commission itself has spent the past three weeks refusing to comment, some are now publicly questioning the trend. Lina Gálvez, a Spanish MEP chairing the women’s rights and gender equality committee, told Playbook: “I think this is really bad news and I think member states should really do what Ursula von der Leyen asked them for, which is give two names.”
Men beware? The Parliament’s internal rules specifically say MEPs should pay “particular” attention to gender balance when it comes to assessing the commissioner candidates in the upcoming hearings. Does that mean the Parliament is about to start rejecting male candidates to even things up? That’s “very difficult,” Gálvez said, instead calling for more pressure on national governments from the Commission, Parliament and civil society.
Warning to weaklings: “The ‘weak’ male candidates will have a hard time in the European Parliament and many will likely get turned down” to get a gender-balanced Commission College, Austrian Socialist MEP Andreas Schieder told my colleague Max Griera. 
Fix your own house: But the fact the Parliament’s leadership capitulated on its own gender-balance rules for committee top jobs suggests to Playbook that perhaps the Parliament’s bark is worse than its bite. A Parliament, by the way, where the proportion of female MEPs has also dropped below 40 percent since the June EU election.
Berlin weighs in: Germany’s Europe Minister Anna Lührmann, a Green politician, raised the alarm too. “The new Commission must not become a men’s committee,” she told my Berlin Playbook colleague Hans von der Burchard. “Equal representation of women and men is in keeping with the times. Von der Leyen must stand for this now!”
College copout: Jéromine Andolfatto, policy and campaign officer at the European Women’s Lobby, said dearth of female nominees is out of step with the EU’s legal commitments to gender equality. “If you’re not having a College of Commissioners which is representative of society, how can you ensure that you have representative policy making?” Andolfatto said.
Man-explaining: The countries that’ve bothered justifying their refusal to nominate a woman presented various excuses, some stronger than others: Our candidate has already resigned from his previous job, we just had a woman, it’s an exclusive competence of EU countries to nominate their commissioner (true), or simply, he’s the best person for the job.
**Save the date! On September 25, POLITICO will host the event “Europe’s Digital Future: Navigating the Path of Connectivity and Innovation” to discuss the role of connectivity and innovation in the context of the ongoing digital transformation. Register today!**
DISPATCH FROM CHICAGO: The Democratic National Convention just wrapped up in Chicago, with Vice President Kamala Harris officially crowned the party’s nominee for the November election. My colleague Steve Shepard writes in with this dispatch …
MAGA, Democrats’ style: By the time Harris took the stage at about 9:30 p.m. local time, many Democrats felt they’d largely achieved their goal at this week’s convention: reclaiming the concepts of freedom and patriotism for the grueling campaign against former President Donald Trump.
USA, USA: Delegates and convention-goers waved American flags and “USA” signs — the kind of scene you might be more likely to witness at a Republican convention. Harris, in her acceptance speech, flipped the script on Trump, touted her foreign policy chops on Ukraine, framed her bio as an only-in-America story and pivoted to the center of the ideological spectrum.
“I love our country with all my heart,” Harris said. “Everywhere I go, and in everyone I meet, I see a nation that is ready to move forward.” More on the speech here.
But no one’s popping the Champagne corks just yet: Despite Harris’ momentum and the good vibes that permeated this convention, elected and professional Democrats are pumping the brakes. They don’t see Harris as an electoral juggernaut, and they recognize some of Trump’s strengths. The former president is still more trusted on the economy and immigration — two of the most important issues for voters.
What the polls say: A new Democratic-funded poll released on the sidelines of the convention showed Harris and Trump tied in the battleground states — but also that Trump held advantages on the attributes most closely correlated with respondents’ vote choice: which candidate is up for the job of president, has the right vision for the country and is a strong leader.
Poll problems: And that’s not to mention the prospect of another Trump-era polling error, like in 2016 and again in 2020, when he lost by a significantly closer margin than expected. Democratic pollsters have spent the past three-and-a-half years adjusting their methods, but won’t be sure they’ve got it right until the votes are tallied in November.
Happy days: For now, Democrats leave this city riding high after a convention full of energy and joy. But a difficult campaign still looms this fall, as our Stateside colleagues report in their DNC wrap-up here. The next inflection point is just two-and-a-half weeks away: the first (and perhaps only) televised debate between Harris and Trump on Sept. 10.
FOR MORE: Listen to John F. Harris, POLITICO’s global editor-in-chief, and Eugene Daniels, co-author of our D.C. Playbook, discuss Harris’ DNC speech on today’s special edition of Anne McElvoy’s Power Play podcast … and make sure you’re subscribed to Suzanne Lynch’s Global Playbook for a DNC wrap.
NOW READ THIS: Can Britain’s Labour Party teach Kamala Harris how to win? POLITICO’s Stefan Boscia has the story.
SCOOP — SOUTH AMERICA WANTS DELAY TO EU DEFORESTATION LAW: The agriculture ministers of Brazil, Argentina and four other South American countries have written to the EU asking it to delay a new law seeking to stamp out deforestation from supply chains, per a letter seen by Playbook. It’s the latest sign of unhappiness around the globe about the incoming legislation — due to enter into force at the end of the year — which aims to stamp out the trade of products like cocoa, coffee, beef and soybeans if associated with deforestation.
A bit too chop chop: The law is “a unilateral decision of the EU that does not take into account the national legislation of third countries, nor the local realities and capacities of our country and regions,” Argentina’s Agriculture Secretary Sergio Iraeta told EU Commissioners Maroš Šefčovič, Valdis Dombrovskis and Janusz Wojciechowski. The other signatories were the farm chiefs of Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, all of whom questioned the law’s compliance with WTO rules.
Critics inside too: The vast majority of EU agriculture ministers have also asked for a delay, citing bureaucratic hurdles for Europe’s farmers, who’ll also have to comply. Is the EU considering acquiescing? The law’s entry into force “has been set by the co-legislators and the Commission is doing everything it can to ensure that things are in place on time,” said Commission spokesperson Tim McPhie.
WHAT IF YOUR PILOT NEEDS TO PEE? While passing through Brussels Airport recently I noticed an eye-catching advert showing an empty plane cockpit with a toilet in the middle of it. “Can you handle two emergencies at the same time?” the poster read. So I asked our ace aviation reporter Tommaso Lecca to explain what it’s all about.
Flight mode: This is part of a campaign by pilots’ representatives against a push by the likes of plane maker Airbus to reduce the number of pilots flying an aircraft at any one time from two to one. The European Cockpit Association, among others, argue two pilots are needed in case of emergencies even when planes are automatically cruising, and accuse plane-makers of chasing profits by cutting costs for themselves.
This is your captain sleeping: Airbus didn’t reply to a request for comment, but it styles the move as merely keeping up with technology and helping pilots “achieve a better balance between working and resting time on long-range flights.” Pilots protested against the move at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport this year.
Plane obvious? “A plane has multiple backups — two engines, two generators — for a reason. One pilot is simply not enough to address emergencies and ensure that all flight aspects are in order,” ECA President Otjan de Bruijn said in an emailed statement. 
EU ON HOLIDAY: This month, we’ve been speaking to top EU politicians about how they’re spending their downtime. Today, we catch up with Eternal Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič.
Where has he been spending his holidays? “Traditionally, I spend most of my summer breaks in Slovakia to reconnect with the wider family and friends,” Šefčovič told Playbook via a spokesperson. “As a father of three, I always enjoy when we dedicate this time to spending it together,” he said.
What is he reading? “The Coming Wave” by Mustafa Suleyman and Michael Bhaskar, “to broaden my understanding of the transformative potential but also risks of AI.”
How does he switch off on vacation? “To relax, I like to have a good laugh watching the long-running show Saturday Night Live,” he said, adding that he keenly followed Slovakia’s performance at the Olympics. “I appreciate long walks with our two dogs, both stunning golden retrievers, in a forest nearby, as well as a long swim or a good exercise to stay healthy and in good shape,” he said, noting he’s a former athlete (he went to a special sports school where he played volleyball).
MODI IN KYIV:  India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kyiv and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today. It’s the first trip by an Indian PM to Ukraine since the fall of the Soviet Union.
THREAT ALERT FOR GERMAN NATO BASE: NATO sent out a late-night security alert due to “intelligence information indicating a potential threat” at an air base in the German city of Geilenkirchen, close to the Dutch border. It comes days after the base reported a security incident, with a non-staff person attempting entry in the evening. “All non-mission essential staff have been sent home as a precautionary measure,” NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force, based in Geilenkirchen, said on X.
KALLAS PREPS FOR PARLIAMENT: Kaja Kallas will be in Brussels next week to get ready for a hearing in the European Parliament at which she will attempt to convince MEPs she’s the right person to lead the EU’s foreign policy, two officials with knowledge of her plan told Stuart Lau. The former Estonian prime minister will meet senior staff at the European External Action Service, which she would lead, and discuss key files its diplomats are working on.
THANK POD IT’S FRIDAY: Alessandro Ford tells Sarah Wheaton how the prospect of lab-grown meat has riled Europe’s farmers on this week’s EU Confidential podcast, and Sascha O’Sullivan speaks to new British MPs on Westminster Insider.
— Slovakia’s Fico is back after being shot. So are the country’s protesters. POLITICO
— Poland’s presidential campaign kicks off — 9 months before the vote. POLITICO
— Why China is starting a new trade war. WSJ
— Why these 15 young voters aren’t rushing to Kamala Harris like their peers. NYT
— Microplastics are infiltrating brain tissue, studies show: “There’s nowhere left untouched.” Guardian
**Mpox vaccine donations are falling short, but the stakes are high. Get the latest news and developments with Pro Health Care, your daily briefing on the health policies that matter to you. Sign up for your one-week free trial of the Pro Morning Health Care newsletter today.**
— Ukraine’s mission to the EU celebrates the country’s national flag day at 11 a.m. at the Esplanade Solidarność 1980. European Parliament Vice President Sophie Wilmès and Ukraine’s Deputy Head of Mission to the EU Serhii Tereshko will attend. Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton will deliver a keynote speech.
— Commission President Ursula von der Leyen receives Stefan Löfven, president of the Party of European Socialists.
— Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni is in Italy where he will participate in the Rimini meeting.
WEATHER: High of 24C, possible showers in the afternoon.
BELGIUM STILL BELGIUMING: Belgium’s government coalition talks fell apart Thursday. Details here.
TAKING AIM AT “TOXIC” BRUSSELS MANAGERS: With the rentrée in sight, new organizations are springing up to root out harassment in workplaces in Brussels, in a sign of the growing concern about the topic across the city’s institutions. There’s been intense scrutiny of how staff are treated in the European Parliament, where MEPs are being made to take anti-harassment training for the first time — and now some professionals are keen to drive wider reforms in the EU sphere. 
Shweta Kulkarni, a comms expert, founded A Better Brussels, a campaign to raise awareness and provide resources such as coaching and listening events for people impacted by toxic workplaces. (The first event, to be held in September, is on how EU bosses can be better.) And married couple Valentin Dupouey and Eliza Popper have set up The Good Enough Company, a for-profit consultancy providing management training to improve working dynamics in the Eurobubble.
Tip of the iceberg: Dupouey, who leads external relations at the College of Europe — which has had its own problems with harassment allegations — told Playbook he was startled by the number of responses he received after posting about the topic on LinkedIn recently. He says he’s heard stories about a unit in the Commission where most of the staff are on leave for burnout, consultancies that are working employees to breaking point and allegations of sexual harassment. “People need to feel empowered to speak more loudly,” Dupouey reckons, but most worry about the impact disclosure could have on their careers.
Do you have a story to share on this subject? You can reach me here.
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND …
Game on: Brussels is set to host Belgium’s largest board game festival, kicking off today. You can join tournaments, mingle with creators or get rid of that dust-covered Trump board game you told everyone was a gift.
Get on your bikes! Experience Brussels’ sustainable transformation on a guided bike ride. Cactus Brussels à vélo has various options departing from Grand Hospice.
Free festival: Plazey transforms Koekelberg’s Elisabeth Park into a hub of culture and creativity for three days, offering free concerts, dance performances, circus acts and workshops. Starts today at 6 p.m. Program here.
WHY YOUR FAVORITE BRITISH BANDS AREN’T PLAYING EU FESTIVALS: Blame Brexit — or more precisely, the increase in complex and costly paperwork facing British artists post-divorce, reports Caroline Hug.
BIRTHDAYS: Former MEPs Maria Manuel Leitão Marques, Brian Hayes and Andrzej Grzyb; European Commission’s Eoin O’Malley; Miriam Sapiro, former deputy USTR; European Parliament’s Hugo Salek; AP’s Nebi Qena; Queen Noor of Jordan.
CELEBRATING SATURDAY: MEP Johan Van Overtveldt; former MEPs Aileen McLeod and Riikka Pakarinen; former European Commissioner and MEP Pavel Telička; Member of the Bundestag Franziska Katharina Brantner, a former MEP; European Commission’s Cecilia Thorfinn; European Parliament’s Eszter Zalan; Rasmussen Global’s Fabrice Pothier; Sauli Niinistö, former president of Finland.
CELEBRATING SUNDAY: Former MEPs Francesca Donato and Barbara Ann Gibson; POLITICO’s Christian Oliver; Finnish Forest Industries Federation’s Kaisu Karvala; ORF’s Raffaela Schaidreiter.
THANKS TO: Stuart Lau, Tommaso Lecca, Max Griera, Hans von der Burchard, Jordyn Dahl, Playbook editor Alex Spence, Playbook reporter Šejla Ahmatović and producer Catherine Bouris.
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