Ursula von der Leyen was reappointed by MEPs on Thursday for a second five-year term as head of the European Commission, promising to make industry, defence and housing her priorities.
In a secret ballot, the 65-year-old German leader received 401 votes in support (284 against, 15 abstentions, 7 void), well above the absolute majority she needed. She had won the green light from the Twenty-Seven at the end of June.
Having become the first woman to head the European executive in 2019, the former German minister has asserted herself through crises.
Faced with the shock of COVID-19, she piloted a gigantic European recovery plan financed by unprecedented common debt. After the invasion of Ukraine, she showed her support for kyiv and defined a strategy to end energy dependence on Moscow.
Having long advocated a “Geopolitical Commission”, it aims to be a guarantee of stability in the face of geopolitical tensions: conflict in Gaza, dispute with Beijing, possible return of Donald Trump, etc.
On Thursday, she pledged to massively boost investment in the defence industry, with a dedicated commissioner.
“A strong Europe” is needed in a “period of great anxiety and uncertainty,” she argued in a speech that mixed English, French and German, in which she tried to respond before the vote to the conflicting expectations of the various groups.
“Pragmatic” on the Green Deal
Another asset of his first term: the sprawling (and unfinished) Green Deal package to decarbonize industry and transport, but accused of imposing a regulatory “burden” on businesses and farmers.
While recommending its “pragmatic” application, it displayed ambitious socio-environmental priorities on Thursday: 2040 climate objective (-90% emissions), “affordable housing plan” with a commissioner responsible for this issue, water resources protection plan, etc.
With the watchword “competitiveness”, she promised to strengthen investments in industries critical to the transition and a concern for “technological neutrality” so as not to disqualify nuclear power.
Mme Von der Leyen also reaffirmed her defense of the use of synthetic automotive fuels after 2035 and insisted on the interests of farmers, key demands of conservative elected officials. Ursula von der Leyen reappointed as head of the European Commission.
Following the June elections, the European People’s Party (EPP, right), from which she comes, remains the leading force in Parliament with 188 MEPs, against 136 social democrats (S&D) and 77 liberals (Renew).
The grand coalition bringing together these three parties was sufficient to re-elected her, but to counter the expected defections in their ranks, Ursula von der Leyen was also eyeing the support of the environmentalists (53 seats).
She thus promised plans for climate adaptation and the “Ocean Pact” that they were demanding.
“Our support is not a blank check […] “Our concern for social issues must be embodied in all policies over the next five years,” warned the leader of the socialists, the Spanish Iratxe Garcia Perez.
“Shield of Democracy”
Finally, after the Asylum and Migration Pact adopted in mid-May, which provides for a mandatory solidarity mechanism towards States facing migratory pressure, Mme Von der Leyen pledged on Thursday to strengthen Frontex, the EU border agency, and triple the number of border and coast guards.
Pledges given to the EPP, but also to the far-right ECR group associated with the Italian leader Giorgia Meloni.
In fact, Ursula von der Leyen, who proposed a commissioner responsible for the “Mediterranean neighbourhood” likely to please Rome, did not neglect the possible support of some of the 78 ECR elected representatives, even if any assumed cooperation remains a red line for the liberals, socialists and Greens.
Conversely, the other far-right group, Patriots for Europe, bringing together the National Rally (France) and Fidesz (Hungary) with positions reluctant to support Ukraine, remains excluded from any majority.
Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday accused Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban of “playing into the hands” of Vladimir Putin and proposed a “European shield of democracy” to “counter the manipulation of information and foreign interference.”
Mother of seven children, once considered Angela Merkel’s heir apparent in Germany, Ursula von der Leyen has finally established herself in Brussels, the city where she was born and raised until adolescence.
From 13e floor of the imposing headquarters of the Commission, it relies on a very restricted circle, a mode of operation which is not very collegial and which has earned it criticism for its opacity and strong tensions with the President of the European Council Charles Michel, who represents the Twenty-Seven.
The members of its future Commission, chosen by the Member States, will be heard by MEPs in the autumn.