Displaying items by tag: Ursula von der Leyen

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has suggested that the EU could learn from Italy’s controversial new policy of processing migrants offshore in Albania. She has proposed new legislation to increase deportations, noting that only 20% of irregular migrants ordered to leave EU countries actually do so. Italy’s scheme, which began on 15 October when sixteen migrants were transferred to Albanian processing centres, has sparked criticism from opposition parties and NGOs for being costly and potentially harmful to human rights. The €650 million project excludes vulnerable groups like pregnant women and children. Prime minister Giorgia Meloni defended the scheme as a courageous approach which ‘perfectly reflected the European spirit’. Recently Germany, France, and Poland have tightened their borders and immigration laws, driven in part by security concerns following violent incidents involving failed asylum seekers.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has sharply criticised Hungary's foreign policies, accusing Viktor Orban of endangering European security. In a speech to the European parliament, she took aim at Hungary's reluctance to support Ukraine in its war with Russia and its growing relationships with Russia and China. She said that Orban's government is weakening EU unity by easing visa restrictions for Russians and Belarusians, and allowing Chinese police to operate in Hungary. Von der Leyen also stressed the dangers of Hungary’s continued reliance on Russian energy and its failure to align with EU energy security measures. Orban, in response, defended his policies, calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine and rejecting any comparison between Ukraine's current situation and Hungary’s 1956 uprising against Soviet rule.

Following the European Parliament election, the European People's Party (EPP) has secured 184 seats, a quarter of the 720-member chamber. Far-right groups also made significant gains. The centre-left Socialists and Democrats remained stable, but the liberal Renew Europe group suffered significant losses. EPP leader Manfred Weber emphasised the party's alignment with industry, rural areas, and farmers. The party might form a coalition with socialists and liberals or negotiate with right-wing parties without alienating centrists. Far-right parties like France's National Rally and Italy's Brothers of Italy made notable strides, while Spain's Vox party lost ground to a new far-right party. If unified, the far right would be the second-largest force in Parliament. Ursula von der Leyen's re-election prospects as Commissioner are uncertain, as she needs full support from the three centrist groups.

Green members of the European Parliament will oppose Ursula von der Leyen's bid for a second term as president of the European Commission if she aligns with hard-right nationalists, according to Terry Reintke, German Green MEP chair. Reintke stated that her group would ‘absolutely’ not support von der Leyen if she made a deal with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), which includes Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni's group. She said that an alliance with the ECR, known for opposing EU green policies, would jeopardise the EU's climate action plans, potentially stalling or halting the Green Deal; this would be disastrous for both the climate and Europe's economic competitiveness against the USA and China. This announcement adds to von der Leyen's challenges, as the centre-left has also pledged not to support her if she collaborates with hard-right parties. To secure a second term, she needs an absolute majority of the 720 MEPs in the new parliament, requiring a broad coalition beyond her centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), which is expected to win around 175 seats.

Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is willing to be ‘creative’ to get a deal with the UK and that European interests will best be served by leaders backing any compromise that emerges. There is concern among member states that the UK might successfully push the commission into making concessions which will give British businesses an advantage in the marketplace over the decades to come. Ms von der Leyen said she trusted Michel Barnier’s ‘skilful steer’. The EU’s chief negotiator is expected to go to London on 27 November in a last-ditch push for an agreement. ‘These are decisive days for negotiations with the United Kingdom’, von der Leyen said; ‘I cannot tell you today if in the end, there will be a deal.’ She said the commission’s negotiating team was open-minded as to how to bridge the gaps between the two sides, but that they were holding firm on key principles.

The mandate for the 2019-2024 European Union sees the election of new MEPs to the Parliament and a change to the whole European Commission, as Ursula von der Leyen replaces Jean Claude Junker as president. Pray for God to direct the new members to be people of integrity as they step into positions of authority. Ms von der Leyen, who took office on 1 December, will focus on an ambitious climate agenda to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, and will work closely with the European Parliament to strengthen democracy and create a fair social market economy in Europe. She also gave a very personal insight into her idea of Europe’s path amid global challenges saying, ‘We need to do it the European way’.

Europe’s new president of the European Commission is German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen. She will lead the executive body that shapes policy for the world's largest economic bloc. Many believe Leyen's appointment confirms their view that the EU is undemocratic and doesn't respect ordinary citizens because she wasn't selected by the voters in the recent EU elections or by the lawmakers who won those seats. She was hand-picked by the 28 EU member states, who side-stepped better-known candidates chosen by various political factions. Anti-EU politicians like France's Marine Le Pen will spend the next five years declaring that von der Leyen's presidency reflects everything that is wrong with Brussels. Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron and others gave her narrow margin of approval so that her mandate is weak as she confronts fraught relations with the US and China, showdowns over Italy's budget, erosion of Hungary and Poland’s rule of law and the UK's exit.