Publication details
Small member states in the European Commission of the 21st century
| Authors | |
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| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | The Eastern enlargement of 2004 brought about many challenges for the European Union's institutional design. An intended and unprecedented increase in the number of member states mirrored itself in intensified discussions about how an enlarged Union in general, and the European Commission in particular, should look and operate. This chapter pays attention to the European Commission, small member states and their involvement in the European Commission's politics. The aim of the chapter is threefold. First, it looks at the small states’ positions towards their representation in the European Commission and the role the European Commission should play. Second, the chapter analyzes small states’ selection strategies for their representatives in the College. Third, the chapter focuses on small states' involvement in and access to leadership positions within the European Commission. The chapter points to the three broader conclusions. Small states indeed perceive the Commission as a promoter of the European Union's general interest, especially stressing the Commission's impartiality and independent position. There are no apparent differences in the selection strategies of small and larger member states. Nevertheless, the analysis confirms the ongoing tendency towards politicizing the Commission as the member states like to see experienced politicians elected as Commissioners. Moreover, the College has become more gender balanced, mainly due to the Commissioners from small states. Finally, the small states’ access to leadership positions within the European Commission has undergone a significant development as the small states are better represented. |