Von der Leyen receives second mandate as EU chief – DW – 07/18/2024

Ursula von der Leyen met this Thursday (07/18/2024) in the chamber of the European Parliament in Strasbourg with an almost endless chain of smiling supporters, in scenes that would probably have surprised many just five years ago, when she reached the highest political position in the European Union, the presidency of the European Commission.

“This is a very special and emotional moment for me,” the 65-year-old conservative German politician told reporters, claiming a victory for “pro-EU, pro-Ukraine and pro-rule of law” democratic forces.

In her first five years as European Commission president, von der Leyen pushed the EU toward a goal of net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. She closely supported Kiev with arms and economic aid in its war against Russian aggression, and she also oversaw a vast post-pandemic investment drive based on unprecedented levels of joint EU borrowing.

Von der Leyen wins big majority even without the far right

Legislators met for the first time since they were elected in June in elections for the entire community bloc that strengthened the far right but without completely overhauling the pro-EU centrist majority. The European Parliament has limited legislative powers but must approve many plans from the EU’s executive branch.

The 136-member Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group indicated it would support von der Leyen as long as she does not feel too comfortable with the far right. Despite poor results in June’s parliamentary elections, pro-business Renew and the environmentalist Greens committed to supporting von der Leyen on the same terms as the S&D.

For months, von der Leyen had made proposals to the nationalist European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), a group whose president is the far-right Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni. The S&D, Renew and the Greens had criticised her for this and accused her of breaking the traditional political firewall against the radical right. In the end, von der Leyen did not need the ECR vote.

She was roundly rejected by the left-wing group, which accused her of neglecting mass poverty in the EU, collaborating with multinationals and being involved in the bloodshed in Gaza. Von der Leyen also got a “no” from the new far-right group Patriots of Europe, now the third largest in the EU legislature and home to France’s National Rally party.

Promise of prosperity and stopping migration

The former German defense minister began her nearly hour-long speech to the European Parliament by focusing on “prosperity and competitiveness,” explicitly linking them with green business investment linked to her key climate goals to keep both the left and the right satisfied. Von der Leyen said she would propose a “clean new industrial deal” in her first 100 days in office.

Other major announcements included a promise to triple the number of European border and coast guards in the EU agency Frontex to 30,000 and to continue to negotiate agreements with nearby non-EU countries for the return of asylum seekers. This last policy has been heavily criticised by migrant rights defenders.

Message to Moscow and Budapest

But the first big round of applause in his speech came after a message to Moscow that probably also agreed with the Greens: “We invested massively in cheap, self-produced renewable energy. And this allowed us to free ourselves from dirty Russian fossil fuels. So, together we will ensure that the era of dependence on Russian fossil fuels ends forever.”

He also explicitly mentioned the need for the EU to spend more on defense. “Europe cannot control dictators and autocrats around the world, but it can choose to protect its own democracy,” he said. “Europe cannot determine elections around the world, but it can choose to invest in the security and defense of its continent.”

Von der Leyen also took aim at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for his recent visit to Russia to discuss the war in Ukraine. “This so-called peace mission was nothing more than an appeasement mission. Just two days later, Putin’s planes targeted a children’s hospital and a maternity ward in Kiev with their missiles. We all saw the pictures of children covered in blood.”

A Trump-shaped cloud on the horizon

It may now take some time for von der Leyen to shine, but as Thu Nguyen, an EU affairs expert at the Jacques Delors Centre, pointed out, the hard work has just begun. “One of the big challenges ahead is the long-term EU budget,” she said, with negotiations set to begin next year.

Another shadow on the horizon is the possible re-election of former US President Donald Trump in November, an event that would significantly strain relations between Washington and Brussels. Asked if his plans for the next five years take into account events in the White House, he said that, regardless of elections in other parts of the world, “it is important that we have… a strong Europe.” This, he said, means reducing dependencies and working more closely with friends and allies.

Despite the challenges ahead, analyst Nguyen said the grouping of centrist forces is a good sign. However, he added, they are unlikely to form stable coalitions in the European Parliament. “The majority in parliament is very fluid and changes all the time,” he explained. That means von der Leyen can sometimes rely on left-wing lawmakers to approve her plans, but in other cases she could look far left, Nguyen said.

Next Steps: Dancing in the High Places

Von der Leyen’s immediate priority will be to distribute the European Commission’s 26 departments, one for each of the 27 EU member states, including her own. It is up to member states to name their candidate, but von der Leyen chooses which position to assign and what responsibilities they will have. She said on Thursday that she would hold interviews in August and fight for gender equality, as was the case in the current European Commission.

The final composition of the European Commission’s top team will ultimately need to be approved by the European Parliament, following hearings scheduled to take place after the European summer political recess ends in September.

(CP/ERS)