The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced that the enlargement of the European Union will be among the key priorities of her future mandate, if she is re-elected.
In her speech before the European Parliament, she warned that the accession process is based on merit.
She confirmed that she will ensure that all countries are ready before joining.
"Completing our Union is also in our essential interest," she pointed out.
"History is calling again. The Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have made their free choice. They have chosen freedom over oppression. They have chosen democracy over dependence. And some of them are paying a high price for this choice. That is why we must make our choice and show firm commitment. Their future will be free and prosperous, within our Union," she stressed.
It is a speech in which she presents her vision for the future five-year mandate.
Her appointment needs to be confirmed by the European Parliament, which will vote by secret ballot during the afternoon.
The election of Ursula von der Leyen requires an absolute majority, which means 50 out of one hundred deputies plus one, or 361 European deputies.
The vote on the election of von der Leyen is the first important task of the new convocation of the European Parliament, which was constituted on July 16.
Elections for European deputies were held on the territory of the European Union between June 6 and 9.
The name von der Leyen was already agreed upon by the leaders of EU states and governments at the summit held at the end of June.
In case it does not get the support of the European Parliament, then the leaders must gather in an extraordinary summit to agree on a new name.
Otherwise, if von der Leyen is elected, the process of electing new commissioners will begin.
Names for future commissioners are proposed by each member state according to the principle of one country - one name.
They then have to go through the parliamentary vetting process.
The European Parliament confirms the future commissioners for the new convocation of the European Commission.
Candidates for future commissioners appear before parliamentary committees for hearings on their future areas of responsibility. The candidate examination process begins in September.
Each committee then evaluates the candidate's expertise and sends it to the Speaker of the Parliament.
A negative rating can lead candidates to withdraw from the process, which has already happened.
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