STRASBOURG: European lawmakers on Wednesday gave Ursula von der Leyen's new executive team the green light to start work, as the EU chief warned there was "no time to waste" to boost the bloc's defences and competitiveness. From supporting Kyiv against Russia's attack to war in the Middle East, China's economic rivalry and the imminent return of Donald Trump to the White House, the incoming European Commission takes office at a time of escalating challenges.
"We have no time to waste. And we must be as ambitious as the threats are serious," von der Leyen told European Union lawmakers in Strasbourg ahead of the confirmation vote. "Our freedom and sovereignty depend more than ever on our economic strength," said the commission chief, who announced a headline push on competitiveness within 100 days, and vowed to personally helm a "strategic dialogue" on the future of Europe's struggling car industry. "Our security depends on our ability to compete, innovate and produce," she said.
The new EU executive has been in preparation since the 27-nation bloc held European elections in June. It is to formally start its mandate on Sunday, after lawmakers gave it the final all-clear with 370 votes in favour, 282 against and 36 abstentions. After the vote, a smiling von der Leyen hugged members of her team and some of the political leaders that supported her. Right, centrist and centre-left groups in the EU parliament last week struck a deal to back the new 27-member commission, skippered by the 66-year-old German, for a second term. That came after all nominees put forward by member states were — for the first time in decades — cleared individually, though only after political horse-trading.
The top roles in the new commission speak of the priorities for the next five years. Estonia's ex-premier Kaja Kallas is to become the bloc's top diplomat, while Lithuania's Andrius Kubilius landed a new role overseeing the EU's push to rearm. Von der Leyen said on Wednesday there was "something wrong" when Moscow is spending up to nine per cent of GDP on defence against the EU's 1.9 per cent. "Our defence spending must increase. We need a single market for defence. We need to strengthen the defence industrial base," she said.
She has previously said the bloc needs to invest 500 billion euros ($526 billion) over the next decade to keep up with Russia and China. This has become more urgent since Trump was re-elected as US president, amid fears he might reduce the US commitment to European security and support for Ukraine. Similarly, trade policy — under Maros Sefcovic of Slovakia — has shot up the agenda as the bloc will contend with a tariff-loving US president who could push for the EU to buy more American products or face higher duties. — AFP
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