The European Parliament has confirmed Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as President of the European Commission. She will serve until 2029.
The German politician will have a further five years to steer legislation at the helm of the EU’s main executive body.
5 more years.
I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for the trust of all MEPs that voted for me. pic.twitter.com/d9n3yfIVtS
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 18, 2024
The secret ballot followed a debate by MEPs where criticism did not fall short.
Her address to MEP’s featured ideas clearly tailored to the Socialists, like a new Commissioner for housing and a roadmap for women’s rights, and the Liberals, who demand member states respect the rule of law in exchange for receiving EU funds.
The EPP saw a great number of its pet projects included in von der Leyen’s guidelines, such as a European Defence Fund, a three-fold increase in Frontex’s personnel and an “SME and competitiveness check” to cut down red tape. Von der Leyen also pitched a new agenda to develop “comprehensive partnerships” with Mediterranean countries, code for EU-funded deals to curb irregular migration.
Her guidelines do not explicitly endorse the idea of offshoring asylum procedures, which the EPP featured in its campaign manifesto and remains vehemently opposed by progressives. The document, however, says the executive will “further reflect on new ways to counter irregular migration, while respecting international law and ensuring sustainable and fair solutions for the migrants themselves.”
All in all, von der Leyen managed to strike a balance between legislative ambition and political realism, giving centrist parties something to champion without alienating them. She also excoriated Viktor Orbán’s controversial “peace mission,” which she described, to loud applause from the chamber, as a “plain appeasement mission”.
“Europe cannot control dictators and demagogues across the world, but it can choose to protect its own democracy,” von der Leyen told lawmakers.
The volatile global environment, including wars in Ukraine and Gaza, helped build her case as a continuity, safe-pair-of-hands president.
Although the three centrist groups – the European People’s Party (EPP), the Socialists & Democrats (S&D) and the liberals of Renew Europe – had enough seats to re-appoint her, internal disagreements hinted at shaky arithmetic, forcing von der Leyen to reach out to the Greens and the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) for additional support.
Her overture to the hard-right ECR, led by Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy and Poland’s Law and Justice (PiS), proved controversial for progressive forces, who saw it as a threat to the centrist coalition. Von der Leyen sought to assuage these fears by promising “no structured cooperation” with Meloni’s group and re-committing herself to the goals of the Green Deal, which her centre-right family has increasingly challenged.
The secret nature of the vote makes it impossible to ascertain who voted for and against her candidacy. But the speech delivered on Thursday morning, with several pointed references to climate action, suggests it was the Greens who acted as king-maker.
“We have secured commitments on the Green Deal, making the EU more socially fair and protecting democracy,” the Greens said, confirming their support.
By contrast, the ECR group said a “large majority of national delegations” would move against the candidate. A representative from Meloni’s Brother of Italy confirmed the premier’s group had voted against the aspirant, the euronews reported.
Greece congratulates
Greece’s Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis congratulated von der leyen on her re-election
Warmest congratulations to Ursula von der leyen on her re-election as President of the European Commission, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis posted on X (former Twitter) on Thursday.
“Her experience and leadership are invaluable in these challenging times. We will continue to work together and build a stronger, more competitive and strategically autonomous Europe,” he stated.
The death knell of the European economy. This woman is obsessed with the EU as an international actor, and not even slightly interested in the well-being of its citizens or the health of its economies. She will lead us into world war 3, with Ukraine as the starting point. Moreover, she has already shown that she supports Israel in its power-lust, and has no interest in the plight of Palestinians. The European Parliament has betrayed the citizens of the European Union.
Bravo. No need to say more.