Angela Merkel’s former minister is seeking a second term in Brussels, after five years marked by crises which shook the continent.
She wants to get back on track. Ursula von der Leyen announced on Monday February 19 in Berlin that she was seeking a new mandate as head of the European Commission. To succeed in retaining her seat for the next five years, the 65-year-old German must already secure the support of her group in the European Parliament, the European People’s Party (EPP), classified on the right. A meeting of the EPP, in his presence, is due to be held on Wednesday February 21 in Brussels. The party will then decide whether or not to give it the green light during a congress in Bucharest (Romania), on March 6 and 7. All he will then have to do is convince a majority of the continent’s leaders this summer. Before the European elections which will take place in June, the leader, in office since December 2019, will therefore try to highlight her very dense record as President of the Commission.
His mandate was successively marked by two major crises: that of Covid then the war in Ukraine. Less than a year after its arrival, the coronavirus pandemic is freezing the continent and forcing the European Union to respond collectively. A vast recovery plan of 750 billion euros, called “Next Generation EU”, was proposed in May 2020 then adopted in December. “The Covid-19 crisis has reinforced its authority”, says Christine Verger, vice-president of the Jacques-Delors Institute today..
“Hopefully at first, she then proposed the joint purchase of vaccines, with a very proactive European Commission.”
Christine Verger, vice-president of the Jacques-Delors Instituteat franceinfo
On this subject, however, he is accused of having negotiated vaccines via SMS with the boss of Pfizer, as explained The world An affair which disrupted the second half of his mandate.
“Bringing the European Union forward”
At the end of February 2022, the war in Ukraine broke out at the gates of Europe. “It was a very strong opportunity for her to take the European Union forward”, traces the socialist MEP Sylvie Guillaume. Since then, continental support for kyiv has not weakened, with a tranche of aid of 50 billion euros adopted at the beginning of February, despite initial opposition from Hungary, which was ultimately defused.
“There were big crises, but she did not completely forget her agenda, which was still based on the digital transition and the European Green Deal”, insists Sophie Pornschlegel, political analyst at the pro-European think tank European Policy Center (EPC) in Brussels. On digital, the Digital Services Act (DSA)described by itself as“historical”, took effect on August 25 to protect citizens against digital giants and has been in application for all online services since February 17. This legislation aims in particular to strengthen compliance with European laws by social networks, search engines and online commerce sites.
The thwarted ambitions of the European Green Deal
The president-candidate also committed to the European Green Deal, which aims to lead the European Union towards carbon neutrality by 2050, in accordance with the 2015 Paris Agreement. Since 2021, nearly Around fifty legislative texts have been adopted at EU level as part of the work led by the socialist Frans Timmermans, Commissioner responsible for Climate until August 2023.
Among the most notable measures of this text are the elimination of thermal engines for new cars from 2035, the introduction of a carbon tax at borders and the promotion of energy renovation of buildings, which Philippe Lamberts welcomes, Green MEP.
“She is an EPP president who, on certain levels, starting with the Green Deal, has been bold in relation to her political family.”
Philippe Lamberts, environmentalist MEPat franceinfo
But the momentum of the European Green Deal has waned in recent months. “She initiated some change, but then faced pressure”, observes Sylvie Guillaume. The ambitious legislative package was particularly singled out by angry farmers. On February 6, Ursula von der Leyen announced her intention to withdraw a bill aimed at halving the use of pesticides in the European Union, a measure included in the European Green Deal.
This Pact is found “threatened because of a polarization which comes not only from the far right, but also from conservatives who say that we need a fairer transition, that it is too fast”, estimates analyst Sophie Pornschlegel. “With the elections approaching, the pressure from her group puts her in a difficult situation if she wishes to be the candidate of the CDU or the EPP”continues Sylvie Guillaume.
“The pressures translate into contradictory actions compared to what she wanted to do, as when she goes back on the texts concerning the restoration of nature.”
Sylvie Guillaume, socialist MEPat franceinfo
Ursula von der Leyen has also faced criticism of her diplomatic positions. The latest concern the conflict between Israel and Hamas. In this case, as in others, she was criticized for exceeding her prerogatives. On October 13, 2023, the president drew the wrath of several European leaders when she visited Israel without informing her peers. From Tel Aviv, she affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself, without recalling the obligation for the Jewish state to respect international law. Another bone of contention: the negotiation of the EU-Mercosur agreement, criticized by certain European countries, including France. Nathalie Loiseau, Renew MEP, denounces to franceinfo a “stubbornness” by Ursula von der Leyen “to want to conclude the agreement with Mercosur, which had to be opposed very strongly.”
A “fairly authoritarian” leader
On the political level, Ursula von der Leyen’s mandate was notably marked by execrable relations with Charles Michel, the President of the European Council. This malfunction was illustrated by SofaGate, in April 2021, when the two leaders clashed over their ceremonial place during a joint visit to Turkey. Some of his opponents also denounced his contempt for MEPs, while“there was the opportunity to make real progress and to rely on Parliament. She is not doing it, but that is perhaps because she cannot do it too much”believes socialist Sylvie Guillaume.
Other voices have criticized him for a very vertical practice of power. “It’s common knowledge: she is quite authoritarian and is known for not working in a very collegial manner”, summarizes Christine Verger. But according to her, the 65-year-old German, who lives in a studio next to her office, compensates for this verticality by “extremely strong mastery of communication”. To the point of having “gave a face to the European Union”adds ecologist Philippe Lamberts. “It is certain that the Commission is more political than ever”abounds Valérie Hayer, whose name is circulating to head the list of Emmanuel Macron’s camp in the European elections.
Defense at the heart of his future mandate?
Elected by surprise and narrowly in 2019, with nine votes in advance, Ursula von der Leyen is moving forward more confidently this time, before a decisive spring for the European Union. If she manages to keep her position, the President of the Commission will notably have to deal with the question of a common European defense, although she has said she is in favor of the creation of a commissioner specifically responsible for these questions. “We will have to build a European defense policy. Yes, it’s new. But it’s essential”opines Valérie Hayer.
With or without “VDL” at the head of the Commission, the war is still on Europe’s doorstep, while the burning question of the enlargement of the European Union to Ukraine and Moldova arises acutely . “One of the questions that Ursula von der Leyen did not address is the institutional question, in the perspective of enlargements”anticipates Christine Verger, who sees “one of the big topics that will come to the table”. Without forgetting major projects in agriculture, immigration or ecology, subjects on which the presidency of the European Commission is constantly awaited.