EU chief to hand economy job to Italy's far-right: report

The National Times - EU chief to hand economy job to Italy's far-right: report

EU chief to hand economy job to Italy's far-right: report / Photo: © AFP/File

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has made her first picks for her top team, with the key economy vice-president job going to Italy's far-right nominee, German newspaper Die Welt reported Tuesday.

Change text size:

Von der Leyen, who secured a second term as commission chief in July, is expected to unveil her proposed lineup following a Friday deadline for states to name their nominees.

Die Welt, citing senior EU diplomats and European Commission insiders, said she is set to give Raffaele Fitto from the far-right Brothers of Italy party the executive vice-president portfolio in charge of the economy and post-pandemic recovery.

The job would oversee how the bloc's pandemic recovery fund worth hundreds of billions of euros is deployed.

Fitto is Rome's minister for European affairs.

Others to be named EU vice presidents include Valdis Dombrovskis, from Latvia and currently EU's trade chief. His role will be EU expansion and Ukraine reconstruction, according to the report.

France's Thierry Breton, the bloc's internal market commissioner, will take on industry and strategic autonomy according to Die Welt.

Spain's Environment Minister Teresa Ribera has been chosen for a "transition" portfolio which will include ecology and digital affairs.

The nominee for the EU's foreign policy chief, Estonia's outgoing leader Kaja Kallas, will also be named an executive vice president.

Each European member state put forward nominees for von der Leyen's 26-person team.

Slovakia's Maros Sefcovic, currently an executive vice president, is set to remain as a commissioner in charge of inter-institutional affairs.

Czech Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Sikela will be in charge of energy, while Poland's ambassador to the EU, Piotr Serafin, will handle budgetary issues.

After the Commission president names her line-up, the candidates undergo confirmation hearings in the European Parliament in September and October.

I.Paterson--TNT

Ian Borg Honoured by Palestinian and Arab League Ambassadors for Palestine Support

Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg has been presented with a commemorative plaque by the ambassadors of Palestine and the Arab League to Malta. The honour recognizes his support for Arab causes during his tenure as Foreign Minister, particularly regarding Malta’s formal recognition of the State of Palestine.

Wu Administration Proposes Reforms to Boston’s Inclusionary Zoning Rules

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration announced a new round of policy adjustments on Monday designed to revive stalled affordable housing and commercial development projects. The proposals include extending payment timelines for developers, temporarily exempting smaller residential builds from strict zoning requirements, and freezing an automatic increase in commercial linkage fees to reduce financial burdens in a challenging market.

MLA seeks inquiry into reported sectarian gestures on Ormeau Road

A SINN FÉIN MLA has condemned reports that loyalist band members made sectarian gestures at the scene of a Troubles massacre where five Catholic civilians were murdered. Deirdre Hargey has now called on police and transport authorities to investigate the claims following Saturday's Belfast Walker Club parade on the Ormeau Road.

Louise O’Reilly attacks Simon Harris over unemployment remarks

Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly has dubbed Fine Gael leader Simon Harris a “Thatcherite” after the Tánaiste claimed that long-term unemployment is “not a way of life. ” The Sinn Féin social protection spokesperson stated that the Tánaiste has chosen to “stigmatise individuals on the margins of society and cast them as work-shy, rather than answer for his Government’s failures and the serious problems within his own party.