Not necessarily the flashiest portfolio, cohesion is nevertheless one of the most consequential as it oversees around a third of the EU budget and manages funding programs that cut across other portfolios. Cohesion could get a new name that fits better with an investment-focused Commission, possibly being renamed ‘regional investment’.

The significance of cohesion will also be tied to the upcoming discussion of the bloc’s next seven-year budget and the likelihood that it will alter the way Brussels distributes funds to poorer areas.

Greece’s pick, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, was governor of the country’s Central Macedonia region and has experience overseeing the implementation of EU funds. Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis has made it known that Athens expects an important portfolio, particularly as he played a significant role in helping von der Leyen secure a second term.

Ekaterina Zaharieva, one of two names put forward by the Bulgarian government, was foreign minister between 2017 and 2021 and also served as minister for justice and for regional development, so her government believes she is qualified for the cohesion portfolio.

Roxana Mînzatu, a last-minute nominee from Romania, is also considered a good fit for the cohesion job as she served as minister for European funds in 2019.

Barbara Moens, Paul Dallison, Camille Gijs, Koen Verhelst, Paula Andres, Jacopo Barigazzi, Max Griera, Giovanna Faggionato, Victor Jack and Karl Mathiesen contributed to this article.