Members of the European Parliament yesterday approved the new composition of the European Commission with a majority vote. Ursula von der Leyen, serving her second term as president, will officially assume her duties on Sunday, December 1.

In the new Commission, the Mediterranean portfolio will be taken over by Croatia’s representative, Dubravka Šuica, a Dubrovnik native.

The Commission received fewer votes than Ursula von der Leyen herself, who garnered 401 votes in July when the European Parliament elected her as the new head of the Commission.

Five years ago, in July 2019, von der Leyen secured only 383 votes—just nine more than the absolute majority required—but her first Commission enjoyed the support of 461 MEPs. This was significantly more than today, despite the fact that the previous Parliament had fewer members (705) compared to the current 720.