EU Commission’s structure leaves Brussels green campaigners dazed and confused

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🗞️ Driving the news: Green and equality advocates in Brussels say Ursula von der Leyen’s revamped European Commission structure is making it harder to influence EU policymaking, while industry groups appear to retain smoother access to decision-makers

🔭 The context: Since the start of von der Leyen’s second term in late 2024, portfolios have been fragmented across multiple commissioners and executive vice presidents, concentrating influence closer to the Commission president and her inner circle
• Activists argue this has weakened transparency and reduced direct engagement opportunities, especially on climate and equality issues

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The institutional redesign reflects a broader European political shift away from the Green Deal era toward competitiveness, defense and industrial priorities
• Environmental NGOs warn this could dilute climate ambition, weaken consultation processes and sideline social equity concerns just as Europe faces mounting climate and geopolitical pressures

⏭️ What’s next: As major EU files on sustainability reporting, industrial policy and climate simplification move forward, NGOs and advocacy groups are poised to navigate overlapping portfolios and centralized political power structures inside the Commission

💬 One quote: “The Commission has scaled down totally on equality. It’s become a second-class objective.” — Alejandro Moledo, European Disability Forum

📈 One stat: The current Commission structure includes six executive vice presidents, significantly reshaping how portfolios and influence are distributed across Brussels

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