European Union member states have until August 26 to nominate their candidates for commissioners to new Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and 15 of the 28 states have done this so far, it was said in Brussels on Monday.

Each member state has one member in the European Commission, but it is still not certain whether there will be 27 or 28 commissioners. Although the UK should leave the EU on October 31, a day before the new Commission takes office, it remains uncertain if that will happen.

Von der Leyen would like to have an equal number of men and women as commissioners. She has said she would like each member state to nominate two candidates, a man and a woman, but not one EU member state has done so yet. Those which nominate a woman will have a much bigger chance of getting the portfolio they want.

Von der Leyen also has to take geographical balance into consideration given that member states from Central and Eastern Europe did not get any of the key positions in the EU.

Commissioners will be heard by the relevant European Parliament committees in September and voting on the new Commission is planned for October.