BRUSSELS, Belgium, Nov 21, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - The European Parliament's main political groups struck a deal Wednesday to greenlight the EU's new executive team -- including a controversial hard-right commissioner -- after a week-long standoff threatened to derail the process. Leaders of the centre-right European People's Party, the centre-left Socialists and Democrats and centrist Renew agreed to back Ursula von der Leyen's new European Commission, clearing the way for a parliament confirmation vote next week and a December start. Senior lawmakers gave the go-ahead following late-night talks in Brussels to the seven commission members whose approval was still pending -- including all six of its vice-presidents, the political groups involved confirmed. Centre and left groups were unhappy that Raffaele Fitto of Italy's hard-right Brothers of Italy party was handed a vice presidency despite his political affiliation. Each of the EU's 27 states gets to nominate one member to serve on the commission, the EU's top executive body and one of the world's most formidable regulators.
