On Wednesday 27 November in Strasbourg, the European Parliament approved the ‘von der Leyen II’ Commission by a narrow majority (370 votes in favour, 282 against, 36 abstentions). The new European College of Commissioners, which will take office at the beginning of December, received fewer votes than Ursula von der Leyen when she was re-elected President of the European Union institution in mid-July (see EUROPE 13456/1).
As expected (see EUROPE 13532/1), a majority of the Christian Democrat EPP, Social Democrat S&D and centre-right Renew Europe Groups, which are supposed to form the ‘pro-European, pro-Ukraine, pro-Rule of Law’ majority, have endorsed the new Commission. But the votes of the environmentalist Greens/EFA (27 votes) and the conservative ECR (33 votes) Groups were needed to make up for the rejection of the Spanish in the EPP Group and the French and Belgians in the S&D Group. Several German Social Democrats and the Belgian delegation of the Renew Europe Group abstained.
The French delegation of the EPP Group, which voted against the re-election of Mrs von der Leyen, has decided to give the future College a chance, believing that a change of political direction is underway at the European Commission.
Speaking to the press, drawing the first lessons from the lowest score obtained by a European College of Commissioners since 1995, the Presidents of the Commission, Mrs von der Leyen, and Parliament, Roberta Metsola, maintained that “the majority in the centre [was] holding firm”, while not denying the challenges of making this majority last.
“Several majorities are possible, but you won’t be able to act without a majority in the centre”, affirmed Mrs Metsola, adding that this work of alliance will have to be done “legislative text after legislative text”.
In her introductory speech, Mrs von der Leyen said she was ready to get down to work straight away with a team combining a wide range of professional experience. She stressed her desire to work “with all pro-European democratic forces” in Parliament to implement the priorities set out by the people in the European elections: defending freedom, security, fundamental values, and preserving the ability of Europeans to decide their own future.
On economic competitiveness, the German Christian Democrat announced “a ‘Competitiveness Compass’”, an action plan setting out three priorities:
(1) Reduce the EU’s innovation gap with China and the United States, by enabling European start-ups to grow in Europe through the mobilisation of funding, particularly private funding, and a simplified regulatory environment.
“The EU’s technological sovereignty must be built in Europe”, she said.
(2) A strategy to decarbonise the European economy while remaining competitive will also be implemented.
“We must and we will stay the course and the goals on the ‘European Green Deal’” by presenting the ‘Clean Industrial Deal’ within the first 100 days of the Commission taking office, assured Mrs von der Leyen.
Above all, she announced the establishment, under her personal responsibility, of a “strategic dialogue” on the future of the European automotive industry, along the lines of what has been achieved for the agricultural sector. The aim is to bring stakeholders together to meet the challenges of the future. “Millions of jobs depend on this sector”, she pointed out.
(3) Increasing security of supply and reducing energy dependency. The Commission will carry out a “systematic review of the EU’s dependencies”, Mrs von der Leyen stressed, noting that demand for critical materials could triple during the next mandate, after doubling during the previous one. She also mentioned health crisis preparedness, biotechnology and the circular economy - all areas designed to help the EU increase its independence.
To accompany this competitiveness agenda, the regulatory simplification project will be entrusted to Valdis Dombrovskis, recalled the President (see EUROPE 13520/5). An ‘omnibus’ legislative text will be drawn up to simplify EU law in a number of sectors.
On defence and security, a ‘White Paper’ will be presented within three months by Andrius Kubilius, the first European Commissioner responsible for strengthening the defence industrial base (see EUROPE 13519/4). This project will contribute to continuing the EU’s military support for Ukraine “for as long as necessary”.
The President of the European Commission has outlined a number of avenues for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) post-2027 (see EUROPE 13520/4). The future EU budget will have to be simpler, more focused, more responsive and streamlined, so that it does not fund the same things through different European programmes. It should also be used to mobilise private investment, in particular to stimulate innovation.
Mrs von der Leyen also expressed her desire to strengthen the instruments for making the granting of European funds more conditional on respect for the Rule of law (‘smart conditionality’).
Finally, it should be noted that Roxana Mînzatu’s portfolio will be amended to include Social Rights and Quality Employment.
See the letters evaluating the confirmation hearings of the Executive Vice-Presidents and European Commissioners-designate: https://aeur.eu/f/dzu
The after-effects are still apparent in the Chamber. The event that led to the political agreement between the EPP, S&D and Renew Europe Groups to pave the way for finalising the confirmation process of the ‘von der Leyen II’ Commission was on everyone’s mind during the plenary session debate (see EUROPE 13528/1).
Speaking on behalf of the EPP Group, Germany’s Manfred Weber said that his group was “at the forefront” of defending pro-European, pro-Ukraine and pro-Rule of law convictions. A statement that immediately triggered reactions within the assembly. As Mr Weber illustrated, Christian Democrat leaders - Péter Magyar against Viktor Orbán in Hungary, Donald Tusk against Jarosław Kaczynski in Poland - will not let extremists destroy Europe.
However, he thanked the Italian Nicola Procaccini, Co-President of the ECR Group, for the constructive role played by the European Conservatives in the evaluation of the candidate Commissioners.
“We have different ideas, we fight for our convictions, but we all find compromises to serve Europeans. Let us keep this spirit (and) let us get to work”, he added.
The President of the Social Democrat Group, Iratxe García Pérez of Spain, said that the majority of her political family supported the setting up of the Commission. But it is “not a blank cheque”, she warned.
“When the forces of Europe make an agreement, it must be respected. We will not accept double-dealing”, the MEP told her EPP counterpart, describing it as “immoral” to form majorities with those who want to destroy Europe or deny climate change and call into question acquired rights.
“It was no small matter, but we’ve done it”, said President of the Renew Europe Group, Valérie Hayer of France. She criticised the show put on by Parliament last week and the attitude of the Partido Popular, which had “vampirised” the hearings process by importing Spanish political tensions into Parliament. In her view, the rules for appointing European Commissioners should be reviewed to include gender parity, the deadlines should be accelerated and the debate should be Europeanised.
“There is only one possible majority, that of the European Recovery Plan, the European Green Deal, Schengen, the euro, that of the pro-Europeans! It is the only majority with a positive agenda”, she said.
Having not participated in the tripartite agreement, but having contributed votes to the new Commission, the Greens/EFA Group was not sparing in its criticism. “This can only work with a pro-European majority in the centre. However, the chance to build this majority has been missed and cooperation with the far right unfortunately seems to be the order of the day”, lamented German MEP Terry Reintke.
On behalf of the ECR Group, Mr Procaccini praised the “courage and dignity” of Mrs von der Leyen, who he said had resisted pressure from the left-wing. He felt that there was “no centre-left majority” in Parliament.
The political groups that unanimously rejected the ‘von der Leyen’ Commission spoke out against the new team and the process by which it was approved.
The President of the PfE Group, Frenchman Jordan Bardella, criticised a team that is “anonymous, elected by no one, but which dictates the daily lives of 450 million citizens and has the right of life or death over entire sectors of the economy”, such as the end of new combustion vehicles in 2035. He mocked Mrs von der Leyen, “a woman who called herself right-wing, but who dreamt of being adulated by the left”.
On behalf of the ESN Group, Sarah Knafo of France condemned “democratic hypocrisy”. “You’ll win this election, but you’ll lose everything else!”, she promised Mrs von der Leyen.
The Co-President of The Left Group, Manon Aubry of France, described the ‘von der Leyen II’ Commission as “the first government of the union of the right and the far right in the history of the EU”. According to her, “all the red lines have been crossed”. She cited the appointment of the Italian Raffaele Fitto, “a post-fascist also known for corruption accusations”, and the Dutchman Wopke Hoekstra, in charge of Climate Action and Taxation, even though “he worked for Shell and owned shell companies in a tax haven”. And to launch a “call for resistance”. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)