EU: von der Leyen announces her team… and there’s some controversy

EU Commission President has replaced the portfolio previously titled “Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs” with a “Commissioner for People, Skills, and Preparedness.”

Why it matters: This move has sparked criticism with some saying it downplays the importance of social and labor rights.

• Outgoing Commissioner Nicolas Schmit expressed concern says that “social and labour rights cannot be limited to skills and preparedness”
• Esther Lynch from the European Trade Union Confederation called for the reinstatement of the old portfolio.

Driving the news: The European Parliament has yet to approve these appointments, and the Socialist group has already expressed concerns. So there could be resistance and heated debate before the final approval of the new Commission team.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The outgoing Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner, Nicolas Schmit, posted on X/Twitter:

I have been proud to be the Commissioner for Jobs and social rights and to deliver on both. I do not understand what the new Title means. I have pushed skills but social and labour rights cannot be limited to skills and preparedness what ever this word means

Esther Lynch, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said:

I am calling on Ursula von der Leyen to urgently reinstate the Commission portfolio for Quality Jobs and Social Rights. 

Scrapping the Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights less than 24 hours after thousands marched in Brussels to demand action to protect their jobs and rights sends entirely the wrong message to working people about the priorities of the new Commission.