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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Lili Bayer

Europe: Ursula von der Leyen hails ‘emotional moment’ as she wins further five-year term – as it happened

European Union Ursula von der Leyen Europe Commission European Commission ECR

Summary of the day

  • Ursula von der Leyen won a European parliament vote to stay on as president of the European Commission for a second five-year term.

  • 401 MEPs voted in favour, 284 against and 15 abstained, giving von der Leyen a bigger winning margin than during her last confirmation in 2019.

  • Von der Leyen formally got the support of her centre-right European People’s party, as well as the centre-left Socialists and Democrats, the liberal Renew Europe and the Greens.

  • The European Conservatives and Reformists had a free vote, though it appears most of the group’s delegations voted against von der Leyen.

  • A host of European leaders congratulated von der Leyen, whose reappointment comes as a relief for many capitals.

  • Von der Leyen’s confirmation garnered criticism from the Left group, as well as from far right figures such as the French National Rally’s Jordan Bardella and parties such as Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz.

  • In a press conference, von der Leyen said she will now ask leaders to put forward candidates for the commission – a man and a woman from each member state, with an exception granted for countries who are putting forward incumbent commissioners.

Updated

Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, congratulated von der Leyen.

“I look forward to working closely with you to reset the relationship between the UK and the European Union,” he said.

Pedro Sánchez, the socialist Spanish prime minister, also congratulated von der Leyen.

“We will continue to work together to advance a more prosperous, sustainable and socially just European Union,” he said.

Enikő Győri, an MEP from Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party, said “Europe is weaker than it was 5 years ago.”

“Yet, von der Leyen was reelected, as she seems to be ready to implement the wishes of the Left. On the basis of the debate the glue that keeps together the ancien regime is their hate towards Viktor Orban,” she said.

Von der Leyen asks for male and female candidates from EU member states

Ursula von der Leyen said that in the coming weeks she will ask leaders to put forward candidates for the commission.

“I will, as I did last time, write a letter and ask for the proposal of a man and a woman as as candidates. Only exception, like last time, when there is an incumbent commissioner that stays,” she said.

“Once again, I will aim for an equal share of men and women at the college table,” she added.

Von der Leyen says re-election is a 'very emotional and special moment'

In a press conference after the vote, Ursula von der Leyen said “this is a very emotional and special moment for me now.”

She noted that she won the vote by a bigger margin than in 2019. “Much better,” she said, to laughter in the room.

“This sends a strong message of confidence, and I think it’s also recognition for the hard work that we carried out together in the last five years,” she said.

Updated

Greenpeace’s EU director, Jorgo Riss, has said that “Ursula von der Leyen hasn’t thrown the Green Deal overboard, but she presented an agenda for her second term which is lacking in concrete measures and major new initiatives, and which is clearly a lot less coherent than her first term.”

“There’s a clear risk that her next term in office will suffer from even more of the internal contradictions that have undermined Europe’s green ambitions so far,” he added.

Updated

“5 more years of social misfortune, austerity & free trade,” wrote the Left group’s Manon Aubry.

'5 more years': Ursula von der Leyen says she's 'grateful' for parliament's trust

Ursula von der Leyen, who was confirmed by the European parliament by a wider margin today than five years ago, said: “I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for the trust of all MEPs that voted for me.”

Ansa is reporting that members of Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy voted against Ursula von der Leyen’s confirmation.

Updated

Petr Fiala, the Czech prime minister whose party is part of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, congratulated von der Leyen.

Updated

“Times are hard, but with your courage and determination, I’m sure you’ll do a great job. We will do, together,” said the Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk.

The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said that Ursula von der Leyen’s “experience and leadership are invaluable in these challenging times.”

“We will continue to work together and build a stronger, more competitive & strategically autonomous Europe,” he said.

Dick Schoof, the Dutch prime minister, congratulated von der Leyen and said “I look forward to working with you to gain more control over migration, strengthen our economy and security, and improve the prospects of the agricultural sector.”

The French far right National Rally’s Jordan Bardella said that the Patriots group “will be, during this mandate, the only patriotic group to resolutely oppose the Green Deal, the Migration Pact and the dissolution of our nations.”

National Rally forms part of the new Patriots grouping, along with parties such as Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz.

Nicolas Schmit, a commissioner from Luxembourg who was the European Socialists’ lead candidate in the European elections, also congratulated von der Leyen.

“As Lead candidates we both headed a campaign for a strong democratic Europe. All the best for the upcoming mandate,” he said.

Valérie Hayer, president of the liberal Renew Europe, said in a statement that “we welcome the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen, who must move quickly to ensure Europe is fit for the fast moving world we see before our eyes.”

“The von der Leyen II Commission carries the Renew Europe hallmark. Liberals and centrists have secured strong wins; for a stronger European defence, on the need for increased competitiveness and the defence of our values. We will be forensic in insisting that the commitments given by Mrs von der Leyen are delivered,” she added.

Updated

European leaders congratulate von der Leyen

Congratulations are coming in from European capitals.

The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said Ursula von der Leyen’s re-election is “a clear sign of our ability to act in the European Union, especially in difficult times.”

“Europeans expect us to take Europe forward. Let’s do it!” he added.

Updated

'The cordon sanitaire against the far-right holds', Greens says

The Greens group, which had endorsed Ursula von der Leyen, said “as part of a 4-party majority, we’ll uphold the EU Green Deal, work on a social Europe for all & protect fundamental rights & the rule of law.”

“The cordon sanitaire against the far-right holds,” it added.

Roberta Metsola, the European parliament president, has congratulated Ursula von der Leyen.

European parliament confirms Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president

Ursula von der Leyen, a centre-right German politician, has won a European parliament vote to stay on as president of the European Commission for a second five-year term.

401 MEPs voted in favour, 284 against and 15 abstained.

Von der Leyen presided over the Commission through two big crises, the Covid pandemic and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. She has won respect among heads of state and government for her staunch support of Kyiv and ability to cultivate close relationships with Europe’s allies.

Her confirmation for another term as the Commission’s chief will come to a relief to many EU capitals, which have sought continuity in Brussels amid political uncertainty in some member states, the ongoing war in Ukraine and concerns about the possible impact of the upcoming US election.

But von der Leyen has also come under criticism from parts of the political spectrum.

Some politicians argued that her commitment to the bloc’s green deal and to defending rule of law standards has been inconsistent, and that her dealings with third countries on migration policy did not provide for sufficient safeguards on human rights. Others, in particular on the far right, see von der Leyen as too centrist, criticising her over the green deal and other core policies.

In Brussels, von der Leyen – a mother of seven who is a medical doctor by profession – is known as a hard worker but has faced criticism for relying on a small trusted circles of advisors. She has also faced complaints over transparency issues, with the EU’s general court ruling this week that the Commission unlawfully concealed details of Covid vaccine procurement contracts.

Ahead of today’s vote, von der Leyen met with MEPs from across the political spectrum in an effort to garner support beyond the three centrist parties that supported her in the past.

She offered a long list of policy promises tailored to appeal to different constituencies. These included a plan to reduce bureaucratic burdens for small businesses and a proposal for a “new clean industrial deal” to channel investment into decarbonising manufacturing and green technology.

Von der Leyen’s centre-right European People’s party, the centre-left Socialists and Democrats, and the liberal Renew Europe all signalled their support for the commission president.

The Greens group said on Thursday that it will also vote for von der Leyen.

The European Conservatives and Reformists group, which includes Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy and Poland’s Law and Justice, said that “a large majority of national delegations within the ECR Group have confirmed that they would vote against” but that the group would have a “free vote.”

Updated

Voting ends

The vote is now closed.

The paper ballots will now need to be counted.

Updated

Members of the European parliament are now putting their paper ballots into a box in the parliament chamber.

Updated

Voting begins on Ursula von der Leyen

MEPs are now voting on whether to confirm Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as European Commission president.

Voting is anonymous.

Updated

European Conservatives and Reformists to have 'free vote' on von der Leyen

The European Conservatives and Reformists group, which includes Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy and Poland’s Law and Justice, among others, will have a free vote.

“A large majority of national delegations within the ECR Group have confirmed that they would vote against Ursula von der Leyen. As in the last election of the Commission President, there will be a free vote in the ECR Group,” it said in a statement.

Updated

Renew Europe’s leader, Valérie Hayer, has posted a photo with Ursula von der Leyen, ahead of the vote.

Greens announce support for Ursula von der Leyen

The Greens group said it will back Ursula von der Leyen, a centre-right politician, for a second term as European Commission president.

“We keep the far-right out of power,” the group said.

Updated

The Socialists and Democrats’ Iratxe García is celebrating Ursula von der Leyen’s promise to create a housing commissioner as a win.

“The next Commission will have a commissioner for housing because we have asked for it,” she said.

The French far right National Rally’s Jordan Bardella has reiterated his group is voting against Ursula von der Leyen today.

German Green MEP Daniel Freund says he believes Ursula von der Leyen needs to do more on Hungary’s Viktor Orbán.

“When it comes to protecting the rule of law, what counts is action,” he said.

Ursula von der Leyen, who is expected to get the support of the European parliament’s mainstream groups today, has faced criticised from the Left group.

“Europe is not yours,” France Unbowed’s Manon Aubry told the Commission president.

“We are the firewall against the extreme right in Europe!” the Socialists and Democrats group said this morning.

Nicola Procaccini, the co-chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group from Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy, has said:

“Dear Ms von der Leyen, if your fate is in the hands of the big losers of the elections, it is clear that something is going wrong.

The ECR said earlier in the day ahead of Ursula von der Leyen’s speech that the group “will be carefully scrutinising her words and actions.”

Ursula von der Leyen’s future as EU chief rests on knife-edge as MEPs prepare to vote

Ursula von der Leyen spoke out against “the extreme polarisation of our societies” as she appealed to the European parliament to give her a second term as European Commission president.

MEPs will decide whether to confirm Ursula von der Leyen as Commission president in a knife-edge vote later today that will either result in another five-year mandate for the EU executive’s first female leader or tip the bloc into a summer crisis.

Addressing MEPs in the Strasbourg chamber, von der Leyen offered something for the mainstream pro-European groups she hopes will support her. In an appeal to her own centre-right European People’s party, she promised a “burden reduction” of EU law to help small businesses.

Nodding to the Greens, liberals and Socialists, she vowed to stay the course on EU climate plans, promising in her first 100 days a “new clean industrial deal” to channel investment into decarbonising manufacturing and green tech.

Under her plans, for the first time the EU would have a European commissioner in charge of housing and “European affordable housing plan” to address a crisis of high rents and unaffordable homes, a key priority for the Socialists.

She reaffirmed the EU’s support for Ukraine and issued her sternest criticism yet of Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán’s recent trip to Moscow. “This so-called peace mission was nothing but an appeasement mission,” she told MEPs, generating the biggest applause line of the 50-minute speech.

And she promised to triple the number of European border propose and coastguards to 30,000.

Read the full story here.

Welcome to the blog

Good morning and welcome back to the Europe blog.

Today we will be delving into a key vote at the European parliament, as the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, seeks confirmation for a second term.

Send tips and comments to lili.bayer@theguardian.com.

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