BRUSSELS – The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has nominated Marta Kos, the candidate of Slovenia, as the new European Commissioner for Enlargement. Presenting the candidates for the Commissioners, von der Leyen said Kos would also be in charge of Eastern Neighbourhood Policy, work to support Ukraine, including the reconstruction of this state, and “support the candidate countries to prepare for their accession to the Union”.
Slovenia confirmed last week that Kos would be the country’s candidate for a European Commissioner. Previously, Tomaž Vasel withdrew his candidacy. According to Slovenian media, this was done so that Ursula von der Leyen could achieve her goal of gender balance in the Commission. According to Politico, Slovenia was “rewarded for flipping from a male to a female nominee” by receiving this portfolio.
Marta Kos, who is expected to replace Hungarian Olivér Várhelyi, is a Slovenian former ambassador to Germany and Switzerland. She was a Vice President of the liberal Freedom Movement, led by Prime Minister Robert Golob. In 2022, she ran for President of Slovenia but withdrew from the campaign.
Candidates for the European Commissioners will be subjected to hearings in the European Parliament’s committees in the coming weeks. They will need to obtain the green light of the MEPs to be elected to office. The European Parliament will vote for the new European Commission as a whole before it takes office, which will take place on 1 November at the earliest.