The 2010 Commission: 3/4 on the right, 1/3 women and 0 minorities

All the countries have now appointed their representative in the future Commission (see the updated list). And we can already make some observations for these nominations:

• A clear predominance of the right - the Christian Democrats of the EPP (12, against 9 today) and the Liberals of the ALDE (8 against 10 today) - while the Social Democrats S&D level off (4 against 6 today), and 3 "technicians". This is in line with the political color of the heads of government but it is not in relation to the composition of the majority of European governments, where left-right coalitions are numerous. Several governments - coalition (Belgium, Netherlands...) as purely social democrats (Portugal...), have thus sent to the Commission first a representative of the right or a technician rather than of the left . Consequence: the general balance left-groite, which often oscillates in Europe between 40-60%, is broken. This therefore constitutes a risk for an institution whose function is normally to represent the general European interest, especially since in five years the trend could be reversed in the Member States. Beware, however, of quick amalgams: a Czech or British social democrat is closer to a Dutch liberal while a Belgian liberal or a French UMP is closer to a Spanish socialist.

• The number of women has increased since the first counts. At the beginning of September, there were only 4 "nominated" women (out of a dozen men). At the beginning of November, we had 7 or 8. There are now 9 (against 10 at the start of the 2004 Commission but only 8 today). Which is already more acceptable but not yet sufficient to achieve parity. No commissioner, on the other hand, comes from a minority. This is, moreover, a general problem of the senior European civil service, which has almost no members from immigrant communities outside Europe.

• Half of college stay in place : 15 are alumni (12 if we count those who have not been appointed this year: Belgium, Lithuania, Slovakia). Two others are not in unfamiliar territory in Brussels: one returns to the Commission after a post in a government (France) and one arrives from the European Parliament after a detour in a government (Sweden). In fact, only a dozen are "newbies".

Calendar. After the official entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty (1 December), the 27 Heads of State and/or Government will officially appoint their representatives to the Commission. And the European Parliament will then be able to begin its hearing work. The new Commission would then take office in February (if all goes well, then if one or two commissioners fail). Until there thecurrent Commission will be extended.
On 1 December, however, the Commission should undergo a mini-reshuffle with the Catherine Ashton portfolio change, the new EU High Representative for Foreign Policy.