The former German defence minister had stated before inviting EU capitals to name their candidates that she hoped to achieve gender balance in her top team. Many countries did not send in two names as requested, but enough qualified women were nominated to allow her to name the EU's largest female contingent yet. "This follows a series of formal interviews President-elect von der Leyen held over the past weeks with each of the persons suggested, " her office said.
On Tuesday, von der Leyen will assign portfolios to each, after which member states and the EU parliament must approve the list.