Ursula Von der Leyen was re-elected at the helm of the EU Commission with 401 votes, well above the 361 she needed to get an encore.
In her speech to the European Parliament, the President of the Commission reintroduced the "no to extremism" leitmotif of her electoral campaign, which guaranteed her the support of the People's Party, Socialists, Greens and Liberals.
The Italian government was split: Forza Italia voted yes, the League no, as was known. There were more doubts about the position of Fratelli d'Italia, which voted against Von der Leyen.
In his hour-long speech before the plenary of the European Parliament he made concessions to everyone, calling for "a strong Europe in times of great anxiety and uncertainty" and shoring up his political lines, starting with the attack on Orban.
ORBAN
"I will not accept that extremism or demagoguery destroy our European way of life", declared the outgoing president, attacking Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his "appeasement" mission to Moscow to reach out to Putin. The EU will also equip itself with a democratic shield against hybrid Russian and Chinese interference.
GREEN DEAL
Progress on the green pact already in the first 100 days of her mandate: the former German minister intends to launch a plan for clean industry and aims straight at cutting emissions by 90% by 2040, a target to be included in black and white in the European law on climate.
MIGRANTS
No impunity for human traffickers, progress on repatriations and agreements with third countries and the promise to reflect on new ways to combat irregular migration.
MEDITERRANEAN
The Mare Nostrum area is worthy of the "most complete attention": Von der Leyen will appoint a commissioner for the Med «who will focus on investments and partnerships, economic stability, jobs, energy, security, migration and areas of mutual interest ».
HOME
He promised it to the Socialists: the housing crisis will be at the center of the new EU agenda with a plan for "affordable housing" for the most vulnerable families and an ad hoc commissioner.
DEFENCE
The mantra is to build "a true European Defense Union" with a dedicated commissioner, capable of coordinating the member countries and working together with the EU High Representative.
STOP BUREAUCRACY
«Speed, coherence and simplification» are the watchwords for reducing the administrative burdens on companies and SMEs in all sectors. There will be an ad hoc vice president to coordinate the work.
COMPETITIVENESS
In order not to lose pace with the United States and China, Europe "needs a strong push". Which, the German indicated, can also be ensured with "a new European Competitiveness Fund".
GAZA
Since October 7, she has repeatedly been at the center of criticism for her positions on the Middle East, von der Leyen has launched a message against "the bloodshed in Gaza which must stop, here and now".
SOCIAL MEDIA
Enough with platforms that create addiction to scrolling with harmful effects on children: the next EU Commission will convene "the first European investigation into the impact of social media on the health of young people".
(Unioneonline/L)
