Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected President of the European Commission for another five years, thanks to the support of the pro-European majority in the European Parliament.

With 401 votes in favor (41 votes above the threshold of an absolute majority), the MEPs approved the reappointment of the 65-year-old German – former minister of Angela Merkel, while on June 27 the European Council had given the green light for the renewal of her mandate. She was supported by the MEPs of the European People’s Party to which she belongs, the Socialists, the Liberals and the Greens. In a press conference shortly after her re-election, von der Leyen said she would work as closely as possible with those who supported her, namely the “pro-European” political groups who are “pro-Europe, pro-support for Ukraine and pro- rule of law”.

How the portfolios will be shared

As she said, next month he will devote himself to the staffing of the College of Commissioners. In the coming weeks, Member States that do not want to renew the term of their current Commissioners will be asked to put forward two candidates – one man and one woman – so that a gender-balanced team can be formed. From mid-August, the President of the Commission will conduct interviews with the selected persons, in order to present the “Von der Leyen II” Commission in September. The hearings of the Commissioners-designate will take place in the European Parliament in the autumn (late September and October), before they take up their duties in December.

The three Commissioners are almost certain to remain in Brusselsis the Frenchman Thierry Breton, Latvia’s Valdis Dombrovskis and Slovakia’s Maros Sefcovicwhile it is not excluded that he will be reappointed as well the Luxembourgish Nicolas Schmitt. Thierry Breton, who has been given the green light by Emmanuel Macron, is most likely to take on a broad portfolio that will include competitiveness and industry.

Between most sought after portfolios it is undoubtedly also that of the Defense that Von der Leyen will build and in which Poland and Lithuania are interested. In order to deliver on the EU’s commitment to “unwavering” continued support for Ukraine over the next five years, the Commission will focus on building a “genuine European defense union”. As he stated von der Leyen, the Commission will propose a series of defense projects of common European interest including an air defense system and a European anti-aircraft shield – something which coincides with last month’s proposal by the Greek and Polish prime ministers.

Furthermore, von der Leyen announced her intention to appoint a Commissioner for relations with the Mediterranean countries. His remit will be immigration management with a view to a “new approach” to the return of migrants who are not entitled to asylum, as well as the creation of new global partnerships. The Commissioner for the Mediterranean will be in close coordination with the EU High Representative, Kaya Kalas. On the issue of immigration, the newly elected President of the Commission pledged that over the next five years the guarding of the EU’s external borders will be strengthened, tripling the number of Frontex border guards to 30,000. “We will show zero tolerance to those who threaten the security of our borders and our citizens with hybrid attacks,” he said.

For the first time, too, a Commissioner will be appointed with direct responsibility for an “affordable housing». “People are struggling to find affordable housing. That’s why, for the first time, I will appoint a Commissioner with direct responsibility for housing,” said von der Leyen, noting that she intends to develop a “European Affordable Housing Plan, which will look at all the factors of the crisis and help to release the required private and public investments. “If it matters to Europeans, it matters to Europe,” said the President of the Commission.

THE economic competitiveness priority

However, the “number one” priority for the next Committee is the economic competitiveness. This means making it easier and faster to do business, less bureaucracy and more faith, von der Leyen said, stressing that she intends to appoint a Vice-President of the Commission to coordinate the work on Competitiveness. “The fundamentals of the global economy are changing. Those who stand still will be left behind. Those who are not competitive will be dependent. The race is on and I want Europe to shift gears,” he said.

Finally, according to Ursula von der Leyen, it is essential that the EU “stays on course” to implement the European Green Deal, which was the number one priority in 2019. The 2030 and 2050 targets for reducing emissions will be maintained. greenhouse gas emissions, including reducing emissions by 90% by 2040 in EU climate legislation.