February 16. 2025. 12:57

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Belgian Commissioner race: will it be Christmas for Reynders ?


As Belgium is still locked in negotiations to form its federal government, the question of the appointment of its future European Commissioner – and the fate of current Belgian Commissioner Didier Reynders – is being raised with increasing urgency as the fateful deadline date for nominee names approaches.

Of the 27 EU member states, 22 have so far put forward their choice of Commissioner-designates, to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, but Belgium, Portugal, Denmark, Italy, and Bulgaria are the remaining five that have yet to announce their choice.

Many have speculated that Italy would be the last country to put forward a final nominee, but Rome has several possible candidates, including Raffaele Fitto, the Minister for European Affairs.

Closer to the Berlaymont, it seems Belgium is having the most difficulty in proposing a name before Friday’s deadline (30 August), while the country’s political parties are bogged down in endless negotiations to form a federal government.

Following the Belgian federal elections in June – which took place on the same day as the European elections – a coalition of five parties is now attempting to form a federal government.

The Flemish nationalist N-VA (ECR) of Antwerp mayor Bart de Wever, topped the polls and is expected to lead a government made up of the Reformist Movement (MR, Renew), Les Engagés (Renew) in French-speaking Wallonia, plus the Christian Democrats (EPP), and the left-wing Vooruit (S&D) in Flanders.

“In all honesty, this is a delicate moment, because the fact that the Belgian elections took place on the same day as the European elections, often means that a nomination is made before a final consensus is reached at a national level,” a source close to the Vooruit (S&D) party told Euractiv.

Newly elected MEP Yvan Verougstraete (Les Engagés, Renew) also regretted that the Belgian Commissioner is either chosen by a resigning government, or by a government in its embryonic stages.

“That’s a pity: being a European Commissioner is a bit like being a minister in the government of the European Union – the implications are immense and the influence on people’s daily lives is just as great,” he told Euractiv.

To be Reynders or not be Reynders?

When it comes to the new Belgian Commissioner, the name that repeatedly comes up is the current European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, of the liberal Mouvement Républicain party (MR, Renew).

Earlier this month, Reynders announced on the RTL-TVi news programme that he intends to continue his mandate at the European Commission, since he has already notified his party leader Georges-Louis Bouchez, and von der Leyen.

“We are going to extend the mandate of the President of the European Court of Justice, Koen Lenaerts, who is Belgian. We have already decided to extend the mandate of the Belgian representative at the European Court of Auditors, Annemie Turtelboom. Why not extend the Commissioner’s term too?” he asked.

“In any case, I am determined to continue working on the rule of law,” said Reynders.

Contacted by Euractiv, no member of Reynders’ party wanted to comment on this topic, citing the ongoing negotiations.

Other names have been floated, such as Reynders’ party colleague member of the European Parliament (MEP) Sophie Wilmès, Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit, S&D), and new MEP Yvan Verougstraete (Les Engagés, Renew), but according to the Verougstraete, it is still too early for a definitive name to emerge.

“Several names are circulating, but the post of European Commissioner is one of the components of an agreement with multiple national implications during the Belgian post-election negotiations, which explains why the candidate has not yet been designated,” he told Euractiv.

Sources from other Belgian political parties contacted by Euractiv also said a similar thing.

Ticking clock

With Friday’s deadline (30 August) fast approaching, the need to find a name is becoming more and more pressing, particularly if the Belgians want to be granted an attractive portfolio.

“I can only hope that the deadline for Belgium’s decision is not too soon so that we can get a portfolio worthy of our European expertise,” said Verougstraete.

Adding that whoever was chosen for the post of Belgian Commissioner, one thing is certain: the expectations of an important portfolio are high for the Belgians.

“It has been Belgium’s custom for several decades to take on a lot of responsibility and to carry it out masterfully, whatever the portfolio,” said Verougstraete. He also added that he did not doubt this would be taken into account, in the next distribution of jobs proposed by von der Leyen

Aware that the clock is ticking, Verougstraete nevertheless concluded on a higher note.

“In Belgian politics, there is a saying that goes ‘as long as you don’t agree on everything, you agree on nothing’, so we’ll see whether the adage proves true or not”.

The European Parliament’s hearings of the Commissioner designates are expected to begin in late September.

If the hearings are not prolonged due to either the Parliament rejecting several candidates or others withdrawing their candidacy, the new Commission is expected to be sworn in by early November.

Read more with Euractiv

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