Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected for a second five-year term as President of the European Commission. The EC President plans to increase defense spending and create a single defense market. She called for the development of joint European projects, one of which could be the European Air Shield.
On July 18, Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected to her position, thus continuing as the President of the European Commission. She promised to invest in infrastructure and industry, continue defending European countries, and work towards the European Green Deal.
Ursula von der Leyen Remains President of the European Commission
Today, Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected for a second five-year term as President of the European Commission after a vote by EU lawmakers. Her candidacy was supported by 401 MEPs, while 284 voted against.
Von der Leyen received 40 more votes than the minimum threshold of 361. Notably, in 2019, when her candidacy was first confirmed by the European Parliament, she received only eight votes more than the minimum required.
“This sends a strong signal of trust. And I think it’s also a recognition of the hard work we’ve done together over the past five years. During the last mandate, we spared no effort. We lived through the most turbulent hours our Union has ever faced, and we kept on course for our long-term European goals,” said von der Leyen.
What She Proposes for the EU
Among her priorities during the presentation of her program for the next five years, von der Leyen highlighted the protection of Europe, especially in the context of the full-scale war in Ukraine. She emphasized that EU member states will retain the responsibility for their national security.
According to her, NATO will continue to be the cornerstone of collective defense. The EC President also proposes manufacturing and procuring weapons within the EU to reduce external expenses.
“We all know that our defense spending is too low and inefficient. Our external expenses are too high. Therefore, we must create a single defense market. We need to invest more in high-end defense capabilities,” she said.
Von der Leyen called for the creation of joint European projects, one of which could be the European Air Shield. The EC President stated that it is important not only for protecting the EU’s airspace but also as a strong symbol of European unity in defense matters.
Notably, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis had previously written a letter to Ursula von der Leyen urging her to initiate the creation of a joint European air defense system.
