On November 27, the European Parliament approved the new composition of the European Commission, headed by Ursula von der Leyen, who was re-elected to this post.
The post of High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy has been taken over by former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.
The meeting was broadcast on the European Parliament website.
How MEPs voted for the new European Commission
The new composition of the EC was supported by 370 of the 688 MEPs who voted. 282 MEPs voted against, 36 abstained.
Now the new composition of the EC must be formally approved by the Council of the European Union. The new composition of the EC will begin work on December 1.
The former head of the Latvian government, Valdis Dombrovskis, has become the European Commissioner for the Economy. Defense issues will be overseen by the former head of the Lithuanian government, Andrius Kubilius.
Former French Foreign Minister Stéphane Sejourné will be responsible for the EU's industrial strategy, while former Austrian Finance Minister Magnus Brunner will be responsible for internal affairs and migration.
There are 27 members in the EC – one from each EU country. European Commissioners are not representatives of their countries, moreover, they are strictly prohibited from lobbying national interests.
For reference
The European Commission is the highest executive body of the European Union, responsible for drafting laws, implementing decisions of the European Parliament and the Council, monitoring compliance with EU treaties and other legal acts, and the current affairs of the union.
