The “Leftover” Portfolio: Gender Equality at the Onset of von der Leyen’s Second Term

Abstract

New Commission, same Commission President, and uncertainties about the future of Gender Equality in the European Union. This article examines Ursula von der Leyen’s agenda for Gender Equality in her second term as President of the European Commission. The main argument is that von der Leyen's leadership is crucial in shaping the Commission’s political agenda. If Gender Equality is not prioritised, it risks being neglected during her second term. Through a theory-guided descriptive analysis of the Political Guidelines of the Commission President-elect, the Political Portfolio for incoming Commissioners, Commissioners’ Project Groups, and the Commission Work Programme 2025, the article assesses the quantity, quality, and instrument selection for Gender Equality. The findings show that, although Gender Equality has increasingly taken a backseat in the agenda-setting process, the Commission is now refocusing on implementation within established EU competences.
Keywords: Ursula von der Leyen, Agenda-setting, Gender Equality, European Commission

Bibliography: Kugelmeier López, Alba María: The “Leftover” Portfolio: Gender Equality at the Onset of von der Leyen’s Second Term, Femina Politica – Zeitschrift für feministische Politikwissenschaft, 2-2025, pp. 75-89.