The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has called for increased defense spending in Europe over the next five years, after her team was voted in by a narrow majority in the European Parliament (EP).
The approval of the European Union's (EP) new executive body, by the narrowest margin in history, allows von der Leyen and her 26 European commissioners to begin their five-year mandate on Sunday.
The EU faces serious challenges, including the war in Ukraine, the return of Donald Trump and the climate crisis, as fears of an economic downturn grow and von der Leyen begins her second term.
Before the vote, she told MPs that something "is not right in the equation" where Russia spends up to nine percent of GDP on defense, while the European average is 1,9 percent.
"The war is raging on the borders of Europe and we must be ready for what is coming, working hand in hand with NATO," Von der Leyen said. "Our defense allocations must increase," she added, calling for the strengthening of the European military industry and joint defense projects.
Von der Leyen emphasized that Europe is facing difficult decisions that require "huge investments in our security and prosperity", the "Guardian" reported.
MEPs voted 370 to 282 to confirm the officials nominated by von der Leyen in September - the most right-wing composition in modern EU history - following a political deal between the leaders of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), the Socialists and the centrist liberals. "The Guardian" writes that this is the narrowest difference since the EP gained the power to approve the EU's executive body in the XNUMXs, and it divided the parliament's political groups.
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Fifteen of the 27 new commissioners, including von der Leyen, belong to or are affiliated with the EPP, while two are close to nationalist and far-right parties. The outgoing commission had 10 members from the EPP and one affiliated with an anti-European nationalist party.
The vote ended a bitter row that threatened the prospects of Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Teresa Ribera and Italy's Europe Minister Rafael Fito, who will now become EC Vice-Presidents.
Ribera's appointment was delayed due to bitter party infighting over the deadly floods in Valencia. Spain's center-right Popular Party voted against the Commission, while Socialists and other left-leaning lawmakers voted against Fito, a former Christian Democrat, because he is now a member of Prime Minister Djordje Meloni's Brothers of Italy party.
The nationalist European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), the fourth largest group with 78 MPs, were divided, while the Brothers of Italy and Belgium's Flemish separatist party voted for the commission and Poland's Law and Justice party opposed.
The Greens group, with 53 MPs, was also divided, but its leaders supported the von der Leyen commission. Their support was cemented on Monday when Von der Leyen said the Greens were "part of a pro-European majority in the European Parliament" as she announced the appointment of former Greens MP Philippe Lambert to an advisory role on the EU's climate targets.
The appointment of Lamber, a prominent former executive at technology company IBM, was already known, and Green leaders insisted that Von der Leyen's open approach to their group, rather than the appointment itself, influenced their decision. One of the leaders of the Greens, Bas Eichhut, said it was "a lie" that Lambert's appointment had determined their decision, stating that the key factor was the rhetoric used by Von der Leyen, which "made it very clear where she stood politically".
Von der Leyen said yesterday that she will always "act from the center" and promised to "stay the course" regarding the European Green Deal, the EU's flagship policy to combat the climate crisis. However, according to the "Guardian", her speech placed more emphasis on strengthening the European economy and defense, without mentioning climate issues or the growing environmental crisis in Europe. During her previous term, the EU abandoned plans to reduce pesticides after major protests by farmers and limited plans to reduce pollution and protect habitats.
In response to a report released earlier this month by former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi that warned Europe was at risk of "slow and painful stagnation", von der Leyen promised a "competitiveness compass" aimed at narrowing the innovation gap with the US. and China, boost Europe's decarbonization and competitiveness, as well as increase security, including the provision of critical raw materials.
The lengthy process of choosing the composition of the EC highlighted how the hearings turned into a political battle in an increasingly divided, right-wing parliament, instead of being a true assessment of officials.
Amid growing concerns about the European car industry, Von der Leyen announced that she would lead a "strategic dialogue" on the future of European carmakers. Many in the EPP and right-wing critics have slammed EU targets to phase out internal combustion engines by 2035, as European carmakers lag behind Chinese rivals in developing electric vehicles.
All 26 commissioners went through three-hour hearings in the EP in November, but for the first time in more than 20 years, none was rejected due to competence or commitment to Europe.
"The Guardian" points out that this lengthy process highlighted how the hearings turned into a political struggle in an increasingly divided, right-wing parliament, instead of being a true assessment of officials.
The President of the EP, Roberta Mecola, said that yesterday's vote for the Commission showed that "the center held". Parliament, as she stated, will require "different types of majorities for different types of legislation, but you cannot work without the center".
We will make sure that the future of the Western Balkans is in Europe
The citizens of the countries of the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova deserve a future of peace, progress and prosperity, and the EU will make sure that that future is in Europe, the head of the EC said yesterday.
Von der Leyen said that Russia is doing everything to prevent their European future, but that the EU will support those countries every step of the way in their merit-based process until they are ready to join the Union, adding that Marta Kos, the future Commissioner for Enlargement , the right person for the job.
"The vision of a continent united by democracy, the rule of law and respect for basic freedoms will always drive our work," said Von der Leyen.
She added that the struggle of Europeans for freedom does not only apply to the 27 member states.
"The dream of Europe extends to the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and beyond. We have seen the courage of the people of Ukraine on their European journey. We have seen the resilience of the people of Moldova to hold on to their European future. We have seen the commitment of the Western Balkans to reform, growth and preparation for accession Union. At the same time, we saw that Russia will stop at nothing to prevent them from having a European future. But Europe's commitment to these countries will always be stronger," she said.
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