Her voice simply echoes across Europe.
Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected as President of the European Commission, gaining a strong backing from her colleagues.
Following a secret ballot among Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in Strasbourg, she secured 401 votes, surpassing the required 360 votes by 41.
A Momentous Occasion
Ms. von der Leyen, representing the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), expressed her gratitude, saying, “You can imagine this is a very emotional and special moment for me.”
She rehashed the importance of defending Europe’s democracy, which she stated is “under attack from inside and from outside.”
Commitment to Democracy
In her speech to MEPs, she criticized “demagogues and extremists” who she believes threaten the European way of life. She pledged to work with “all the democratic forces” in the Parliament to safeguard democracy.
Role of the European Commission President
According to the BBC, the President of the European Commission sets the EU’s policy agenda, political direction, and priorities.
The President also leads a cabinet of commissioners and represents the EU at international meetings and summits.
Her Future Targets
Ms. von der Leyen outlined several key targets for her next term:
– Climate Action: She reaffirmed her commitment to the EU’s climate targets, proposing a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
– Defense Duties: She plans to launch common defense projects, including a European air shield, aligning with the priorities of her centre-right party.
– Border Security: Addressing right-wing concerns, she promised to strengthen Europe’s borders by tripling the number of border guards.
Ursula is at the next stop of her assignment
“History will keep knocking on Europe’s door, and the need for Europe will be stronger than ever.”
