The new European Commission headed by Ursula von der Leyen was endorsed on Wedensday by the European Parliament (EP), gathered in plenary session in Strasbourg. Ursula von der Leyen’s new team received 370 votes “for”, 282 “against” and 36 abstentions. The new Community Executive, made up of 6 vice-presidents and 20 commissioners, also includes the Romanian Roxana Mînzatu, who holds the portfolio of Executive Vice-President for the People, Skills and Preparedness. In the debate before the vote, Ursula von der Leyen said that the freedom and sovereignty of the European Union depends “more than ever” on its “economic strength”. She stressed that the first major initiative of the new European Commission will focus on competitiveness to close the gap with the United States and China in new businesses and technologies and to enhance the EU’s security and self-reliance. She also insisted on European defense and the need to do more to compete with Russia’s military spending, in full war with Ukraine, and at a time when Donald Trump is preparing to return to the White House. The term of the new European Commission starts on December 1. Also on Wednesday, the EP voted for the EU budget for 2025 in the amount of approximately 200 billion euros.
