Ursula von der Leyen re-elected to a second term as European Commission president

European Parliament elected Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission for the second term on Thursday.

The re-election ensures leadership continuity for the 27-nation bloc as it wrestles with crises ranging from the war in Ukraine to climate change, migration and housing shortages.

A majority in the 720-seat legislature voted for the German Christian Democrat after a speech in which she pledged to be a strong leader for Europe in a time of crisis and polarization. Von der Leyen gained 401 of the 707 votes cast. There were 284 votes against her candidacy, 15 abstentions and seven void ballots.

The secret ballot came hot on the heels of strong gains by the far right in last month’s election for the European Parliament.

“I will never let the extreme polarization of our societies become accepted. I will never accept that demagogues and extremists destroy our European way of life. And I stand here today ready to lead the fight with all the Democratic forces in this house,” von der Leyen said in her final pitch.

If lawmakers had rejected her candidacy, it would leave leaders of the 27-nation bloc scrambling to find a replacement as Europe grapples with crises ranging from the war in Ukraine to climate change. Instead, the continent now has an experienced pair of hands at the helm.

In a speech that sought to shore up support from across the political spectrum, von der Leyen pledged to strengthen the EU economy, its police and border agencies, tackle migration and pursue policies tackling climate change while also helping farmers who have staged protests against what they call stifling EU bureaucracy and environmental rules.

She also took a swipe at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his recent visit to Russia shortly after his country took over the rotating six-month EU presidency.

“This so-called peace mission was nothing but an appeasement mission,” von der Leyen said as she vowed that Europe would remain shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine.

Leyen made the following pledges on Thursday before the election.

DEFENCE AND SECURITY

- Build a “true European Defence Union” and create a single market for defence products and services.

- Propose Defence Projects of Common European Interest starting with a European Air Shield and cyber defence.

- Appoint a Commissioner for Defence, who will coordinate efforts to strengthen Europe’s defence industrial base.

- Present a White Paper on the Future of European Defence in the next Commission’s first 100 days.

- More than double the staff of European police agency Europol.

ECONOMIC POLICY

- Create a European Savings and Investments Union, including banking and capital markets to leverage priva ate savings to invest in innovation and clean and digital transitions.

- Establish a European Competitiveness Fund as part of the EU’s next long-term budget, starting in 2028. The fund, of unspecified size and financing method, is to invest in strategic technologies like Artificial Intelligence, space, clean tech and biotechnology and support European projects of common interest.

COMPETITIVENESS, FOREIGN ECONOMIC POLICY

- Present a “Clean Deal Industrial Deal” in the next Commission’s first 100 days to ensure the EU is making the products it requires for its green transition and reduces its reliance on imports from China.

- Increase the share of renewables in EU electricity power generation beyond its current 50% and make it easier for banks and investors to finance fast-growing companies and steer private savings into the green and digital transitions.

- Revise Public Procurement Directive to enable preference for European products in strategic sectors.

- Formulate new economic foreign policy that forges critical mineral partnerships, drives investment in Africa, Asia and Latin America and guards against technology leakage.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY

- Propose a legally-binding EU target to cut emissions by 90% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels.

- Focus on ensuring countries can fulfil the EU’s existing CO2-cutting policies.

- Von der Leyen indicated she plans to maintain a contentious policy to ban sales of new CO2-emitting cars by 2035. But her policy document said the law would be tweaked to confirm cars running on e-fuels can still be sold after 2035.

- Present plan to help countries adapt to worsening climate change, which is hitting EU countries like Spain and Greece with severe drought and wildfires.

- Extend EU’s joint purchasing scheme for gas to include hydrogen and critical raw materials.

MIGRATION

- Triple the number of European Border and Coast Guards to 30,000.

- Develop new EU Visa Policy Strategy “to better secure borders and manage migration”.

- Appoint a Commissioner for the Mediterranean and establish a Pact for the Mediterranean with countries in the region.

- Present new common approach on return of migrants, with new legislation “to speed up and simplify the process”.

OTHER POLICY AREAS

- Appoint a commissioner whose responsibilities will include housing and put forward a European Affordable Housing Plan.

- Appoint a dedicated Commissioner for Enlargement to help bring candidate countries closer to EU membership.

With inputs from agencies.