Ursula von der Leyen’s future College of Commissioners is beginning to shape form as all but two – Italy and the UK – of the European Union’s 28 members have nominated candidates for the EU Executive.

Von der Leyen has begun interviewing her future Commissioners and has signalled that this process will not be done in the full view of the media, meaning without readouts for the press. The names that will pass to the next stage of the process – which will include Parliament hearings in September ...