Slovenia’s Marta Kos is put forward to take over the portfolio for enlarging the membership of the EU, one of the bloc’s most politically sensitive briefs, with countries like Ukraine, Moldova and Albania all vying to join.

It’s a big win for Ljubljana, as many contenders to join the bloc are in the neighboring Western Balkans. But it all depends on Kos impressing MEPs.

Her road to Brussels has been among the most politically explosive of all designated commissioners, after Slovenia’s first pick, Tomaž Vesel, withdrew under pressure from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who wanted more women in her top team. There was then a protracted delay as the Slovenian parliament refused to complete the nomination process.

Since then, Kos — a former ambassador in Berlin and Geneva — has come under intense public scrutiny for conciliatory comments she made about Moscow in 2022, and also for her work as a consultant.

Some in the EPP family — where Slovenian opposition leader Janez Janša is a member — are keen to poke her in the eye.

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