Eurochild's reaction to the election of the new College of Commissioners
Eurochild welcomes the election of the new College of Commissioners and expresses its commitment to collaborating with them to ensure children’s rights are at the heart of EU policies. We take this opportunity to spotlight several key commitments made by the new Commission that hold particular significance for advancing children’s rights.
On 17 September, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced her team of 26 potential commissioners—one from each European Union member state, excluding the President herself. Following this announcement, each commissioner-designate underwent a thorough vetting process, beginning with an assessment by the European Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs. To assess whether the nominees possessed the necessary competencies and suitability to manage their portfolios, the European Parliament addressed both written questions and oral hearings.
Eurochild engaged with the European Parliament throughout this process, working alongside allies in the Child Rights Action Group (CRAG), the Alliance for Investing in Children and ECLAG. We are pleased that many of the questions we proposed—focusing on issues relevant to children’s rights—were asked in both oral and written forms.
Today, 27 November, the European Parliament, in plenary, approved the College of Commissioners proposed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. As the new Commission officially begins its term on 1 December, Eurochild welcomes the opportunity to reflect on some of the priorities outlined by the commissioners during their hearings.