In early January, as President Ursula von der Leyen recuperated from pneumonia, the European Commission stealthily reorganized its internal framework by establishing project groups.

These groups aim to transition the emphasis from overarching departmental divisions to targeted priority issues and significant legislative initiatives, with each group functioning under a renewable mandate of one year.

The revamped structure seeks to enhance internal collaboration and decision-making by enabling individual Commissioners to oversee specific projects.

For instance, the duty for agriculture has been reassigned to Commissioner Christophe Hansen, who now spearheads the Vision for Agriculture and Food project group.

Likewise, Lithuanian Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has been appointed to develop the European Defence Union, a responsibility that was previously held by the EU’s chief diplomat.

Alongside the workflow reorganization, the Commission has also enhanced its transparency initiatives.

Starting January first, meeting notes between lobbyists and senior officials are now accessible online, encompassing roughly one thousand five hundred officials, a step aimed at bolstering accountability.

This restructuring embodies President von der Leyen’s approach to navigating an increasingly intricate portfolio and clarifying power relations within the Commission for the future, while still granting her the ability to chair meetings personally if she sees fit.