Approval for Second Von der Leyen Commission 'Down to the Wire'

This amounts to nearly 54% of all votes cast, the lowest support ever for a new Commission. Almost all political groups voted internally divided.

The division in Parliament put pressure on the pro-European coalition of the EPP, Socialists, and Liberals. Both Iratxe García, leader of the Socialists, and Valérie Hayer of Renew Europe expressed criticism of the EPP’s rapprochement with right-wing nationalist and far-right parties. 

The MEPs want the new Commission to quickly address the challenges facing the EU. They urged Von der Leyen and her team to improve European competitiveness, implement the Green Deal, ensure energy independence, and build a defense union in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Von der Leyen acknowledged the tensions and called for cooperation among all democratic, pro-European forces. "The art of dividing and forging compromises is the hallmark of a vibrant democracy," she said. She pointed out that both Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and the looming trade war from the United States against China pose threats to the stability in and of the EU.

In her speech, Von der Leyen promised a Commission fully focused on revitalizing the stagnating EU economy, increasing competitiveness, reducing bureaucracy, tapping into investments, and closing the innovation gap with the United States and China. 

The Commission’s first initiative will be a "competition compass" to close the innovation gap with the United States and China and to make the European economy greener and more autonomous. Additionally, Von der Leyen reiterated her call for higher defense spending and a stronger European role in geopolitical conflicts.