A very small majority of the European Parliament has approved the composition of the new European Commission of President Ursula von der Leyen. Her committee received the support of only 370 MEPs, with 36 abstentions and 282 votes against.
This amounts to almost 54% of all votes cast, the smallest support ever for a new Commission. Almost all groups voted divided on it.
The split 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 criticised the EPP's rapprochement with right-wing nationalist and far-right parties.
MEPs want the new Commission to swiftly address the challenges facing the EU. They called on von der Leyen and her team to improve European competitiveness, implement the Green Deal, ensure energy independence and build a defence union in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Von der Leyen acknowledged the tensions and called for cooperation between all democratic, pro-European forces. “The ability to divide and forge compromises is the hallmark of a vibrant democracy,” she said. She pointed out that both the ongoing Russian war on Ukraine and the looming US trade war on China pose a threat to stability in and of the EU.
In her speech, von der Leyen promised a Commission focused on reviving the EU's stagnant economy, boosting competitiveness, cutting red tape, unlocking investment and closing the innovation gap with the United States and China.
The Commission’s first initiative will be a “competitiveness compass” to close the innovation gap with the United States and China and make the European economy greener and more independent. In addition, von der Leyen reiterated her call for greater defence spending and a stronger role for Europe in geopolitical conflicts.