In early January, as President Ursula von der Leyen was recuperating from pneumonia, the European Commission discreetly reorganized its internal structure by forming project groups.

These groups are intended to transition the focus from overarching departmental divisions to targeted priority topics and significant legislative initiatives, with each group operating on a one-year renewable basis.

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

For instance, the role of overseeing agriculture has been handed over to Commissioner Christophe Hansen, who now directs the Vision for Agriculture and Food project group.

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

In addition to streamlining workflows, the Commission has also increased its transparency efforts.

Starting from January first, records of meetings between lobbyists and senior officials are now made available online, encompassing around one thousand five hundred officials, a step aimed at boosting accountability.

This restructuring aligns with President von der Leyen’s approach to manage a progressively intricate portfolio and clarify power roles within the Commission for the years ahead, while still permitting her to preside over meetings personally when she considers it appropriate.