Ursula von der Leyen wanted 361 votes to go and acquired 401 (File)
Brussels:
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen was elected for a second time period on Thursday after pledging to create a continental “defence union” and keep the course on Europe’s inexperienced transition whereas cushioning its burden on trade.
Members of the European Parliament backed von der Leyen’s bid for an additional five-year time period on the helm of the European Union’s highly effective govt physique with 401 votes in her favour and 284 in opposition to in a secret poll within the 720-member chamber.
In an handle to the Parliament in Strasbourg earlier within the day, von der Leyen laid out a programme centered on prosperity and safety, formed by the challenges of Russia’s warfare in Ukraine, international financial competitors and local weather change.
“The subsequent 5 years will outline Europe’s place on the planet for the following 5 many years. It’ll resolve whether or not we form our personal future or let it’s formed by occasions or by others,” von der Leyen mentioned forward of a secret poll on her candidacy.
She careworn the necessity to not backtrack on the “Inexperienced Deal” transformation of the EU economic system to combat local weather change – a key pledge for Inexperienced lawmakers, who joined centre-right, centre-left and liberal teams in backing her for the put up.
After pledging to assist Ukraine for so long as it takes in its combat in opposition to Russia, von der Leyen mentioned Europe’s liberty was at stake and it should make investments extra in defence.
Von der Leyen, a centre-right former German defence minister, pledged to create “a real European Defence Union”, with flagship tasks on air and cyber defence.
The plan sparked criticism from the Kremlin, which mentioned it
mirrored an angle of “militarisation (and) confrontation”.
Von der Leyen blasted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s current go to to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as an “appeasement mission”, profitable broad applause from lawmakers.
Defence coverage in Europe has historically been the area of nationwide governments and NATO.
However following Russia’s assault on Ukraine and amid uncertainty over how a lot Europe will have the ability to depend on the US for its safety ought to Donald Trump win the U.S. presidential election in November, the European Fee is looking for to push extra joint European defence tasks.
Von der Leyen additionally promised a raft of local weather insurance policies together with a legally-binding EU goal to chop emissions by 90% by 2040, in comparison with 1990 ranges.
She additionally pledged new measures to assist European industries keep aggressive whereas they put money into curbing emissions.
Inexperienced Assist
The Greens’ choice to affix the casual alliance of events that helps von der Leyen ensured her margin of victory was pretty snug. She wanted 361 votes to safe a majority within the chamber.
Her personal coalition of the centre-right, centre-left and liberals has 401 seats, however a few of its members had been anticipated to vote in opposition to her within the secret vote.
She may additionally promise tighter EU border controls and stronger police cooperation in opposition to crime.
Von der Leyen’s re-election gives continuity within the European Union’s key establishment at a time of exterior and inner challenges – together with mounting assist for far-right and eurosceptic political events within the 27-nation bloc.
Within the coming weeks, she’s going to suggest her crew of commissioners, who will face particular person hearings from lawmakers earlier than a ultimate vote on the entire Fee later within the yr.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
