STRASBOURG: European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday made her last pitch to win EU lawmakers’ backing for a second time period, vowing to bolster Europe’s defence and strengthening its trade by better funding.
The EU chief is searching for to persuade a large spectrum of political events, from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy celebration to the Greens, to help her in a vote to be held later Thursday.
Von der Leyen’s guarantees typically appeared contradictory within the hour-long speech within the European Parliament throughout which she delivered an expansive street map for what her second five-year time period would appear to be.
She vowed to spice up Europe’s competitiveness and guarantee important funding in key industries together with defence. However she additionally insisted the European Union wouldn’t swerve from formidable local weather targets that embrace lowering greenhouse fuel emissions by 90 p.c by 2040.
She stated she would work on a brand new “clear industrial deal” to “assist deliver down vitality payments” and give attention to creating an “inexpensive housing plan”.
To get a second time period she wants at the least 361 votes within the 720-seat parliament, which is holding its first sitting in Strasbourg, France since EU-wide elections in June.
With conflicts in and close to Europe, von der Leyen insisted on the necessity for a “sturdy Europe” throughout a “interval of deep nervousness and uncertainty”.
If von der Leyen is reappointed she may have a rising listing of issues to sort out together with the struggle in Ukraine, the danger of a wider battle within the Center East and the EU’s commerce tensions with China.
She offered herself as the very best and most skilled captain to steer the fee.
Von der Leyen reiterated the EU’s help for Ukraine within the face of Russia’s aggression. She additionally condemned a go to by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to Moscow — simply days after his nation took on the rotating EU presidency in July — as an “appeasement mission”.
And she or he referred to as for an “instant and enduring ceasefire” within the Palestinian territory of Gaza, calling for the “bloodshed” to “cease now”.
The EU lawmakers’ vote on her future shall be held by secret poll.
Strolling on a tightrope
The German ex-defence minister has led the European Fee since 2019, the primary lady within the position.
She has weathered a number of crises such because the Covid pandemic and the struggle in Ukraine — and likewise confronted many controversies.
Dealing a blow to von der Leyen a day earlier than the vote, a high EU courtroom dominated she did not be clear sufficient about coronavirus vaccine contracts.
However her supporters consider she is going to comfortably clinch the vote after holding weeks of negotiations with lawmakers to push them to again her.
Her detractors categorical deep frustration with von der Leyen and recommend she has a shaky majority. When she received her first mandate in 2019 it was with solely 9 additional votes from MEPs.
She belongs to the largest political group within the parliament, the conservative European Individuals’s Social gathering, which is in a centrist coalition with the Socialists and Democrats and the liberal Renew Europe teams.
In principle, that coalition has the numbers to get von der Leyen over the road.
The expectations are that some lawmakers inside these teams will vote towards her however she can even decide up some votes from Greens and the far-right European Conservatives and Reformists that may seal the deal.
If she fails to get a majority, the 27 leaders shall be anticipated to place ahead a brand new title.
Higher defended borders
In a bid to additional win lawmakers’ approval, particularly the Greens, von der Leyen revealed a doc with extra particulars about her plans.
She stated she would construct a “European Oceans Pact” to make sure more healthy waters. However in a sign of the fragile balancing act she faces, she additionally promised to guard agriculture after farmers’ protests towards inexperienced insurance policies.
If elected, she should get straight to work selecting her subsequent cupboard of commissioners, often called a “school”, to work on EU coverage.
She stated she would create a brand new commissioner to sort out Europe’s housing disaster, “strengthen” the EU’s border company Frontex and triple the variety of border guards.
She additionally vowed to bolster the EU’s efforts towards disinformation.
“The union wants its personal construction devoted to the battle towards manipulation of knowledge and overseas interference,” von der Leyen stated.
The EU chief is searching for to persuade a large spectrum of political events, from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy celebration to the Greens, to help her in a vote to be held later Thursday.
Von der Leyen’s guarantees typically appeared contradictory within the hour-long speech within the European Parliament throughout which she delivered an expansive street map for what her second five-year time period would appear to be.
She vowed to spice up Europe’s competitiveness and guarantee important funding in key industries together with defence. However she additionally insisted the European Union wouldn’t swerve from formidable local weather targets that embrace lowering greenhouse fuel emissions by 90 p.c by 2040.
She stated she would work on a brand new “clear industrial deal” to “assist deliver down vitality payments” and give attention to creating an “inexpensive housing plan”.
To get a second time period she wants at the least 361 votes within the 720-seat parliament, which is holding its first sitting in Strasbourg, France since EU-wide elections in June.
With conflicts in and close to Europe, von der Leyen insisted on the necessity for a “sturdy Europe” throughout a “interval of deep nervousness and uncertainty”.
If von der Leyen is reappointed she may have a rising listing of issues to sort out together with the struggle in Ukraine, the danger of a wider battle within the Center East and the EU’s commerce tensions with China.
She offered herself as the very best and most skilled captain to steer the fee.
Von der Leyen reiterated the EU’s help for Ukraine within the face of Russia’s aggression. She additionally condemned a go to by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to Moscow — simply days after his nation took on the rotating EU presidency in July — as an “appeasement mission”.
And she or he referred to as for an “instant and enduring ceasefire” within the Palestinian territory of Gaza, calling for the “bloodshed” to “cease now”.
The EU lawmakers’ vote on her future shall be held by secret poll.
Strolling on a tightrope
The German ex-defence minister has led the European Fee since 2019, the primary lady within the position.
She has weathered a number of crises such because the Covid pandemic and the struggle in Ukraine — and likewise confronted many controversies.
Dealing a blow to von der Leyen a day earlier than the vote, a high EU courtroom dominated she did not be clear sufficient about coronavirus vaccine contracts.
However her supporters consider she is going to comfortably clinch the vote after holding weeks of negotiations with lawmakers to push them to again her.
Her detractors categorical deep frustration with von der Leyen and recommend she has a shaky majority. When she received her first mandate in 2019 it was with solely 9 additional votes from MEPs.
She belongs to the largest political group within the parliament, the conservative European Individuals’s Social gathering, which is in a centrist coalition with the Socialists and Democrats and the liberal Renew Europe teams.
In principle, that coalition has the numbers to get von der Leyen over the road.
The expectations are that some lawmakers inside these teams will vote towards her however she can even decide up some votes from Greens and the far-right European Conservatives and Reformists that may seal the deal.
If she fails to get a majority, the 27 leaders shall be anticipated to place ahead a brand new title.
Higher defended borders
In a bid to additional win lawmakers’ approval, particularly the Greens, von der Leyen revealed a doc with extra particulars about her plans.
She stated she would construct a “European Oceans Pact” to make sure more healthy waters. However in a sign of the fragile balancing act she faces, she additionally promised to guard agriculture after farmers’ protests towards inexperienced insurance policies.
If elected, she should get straight to work selecting her subsequent cupboard of commissioners, often called a “school”, to work on EU coverage.
She stated she would create a brand new commissioner to sort out Europe’s housing disaster, “strengthen” the EU’s border company Frontex and triple the variety of border guards.
She additionally vowed to bolster the EU’s efforts towards disinformation.
“The union wants its personal construction devoted to the battle towards manipulation of knowledge and overseas interference,” von der Leyen stated.
