European Parliament Approves Ursula von der Leyen's New Commission Amidst Tensions
European parliament leaders have successfully reached a deal that paves the way for Ursula von der Leyen’s top team, allowing the new European Commission to take office on December 1. Leaders from the center-right European People's Party (EPP), the Socialists, and the centrist Renew group, who together hold 56 of the parliament’s 720 seats, have managed to forge a compromise to ensure that von der Leyen's nominees will be approved in an upcoming vote next week.
Von der Leyen has selected 26 European commissioners to spearhead EU policies addressing critical areas such as the climate crisis, competitiveness, trade, industry, agriculture, and nature. However, the entire team requires the backing of the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in one vote scheduled for next Wednesday. Each commissioner underwent a grueling three-hour hearing in parliament, but tensions emerged threatening the appointment process.
Specifically, the Socialists signaled their intent to block the nomination of Italy’s vice-president nominee Raffaele Fitto, a member of Giorgia Meloni’s hardline Brothers of Italy party. In retaliation, the EPP threatened to obstruct the appointment of Spanish Socialist vice-president nominee Teresa Ribera. Ribera, who serves as Spain’s deputy prime minister and environment minister, has faced scrutiny over catastrophic floods in Valencia, which claimed the lives of 216 people. She attributed the disaster to climate change and highlighted the necessity for Spain to bolster official response capacities.
The regional president of Valencia, Carlos Mazón from the center-right Popular Party (PP), has been under pressure to resign due to his administration’s delayed responses during the floods. During her hearing, Ribera faced accusations from Mazón's allies attempting to shift the blame onto her.
Ribera is poised to become von der Leyen’s most influential commissioner overseeing the green transition and competition. This standoff delayed the approval of all six vice-presidential nominees, including Kaja Kallas, who is also the EU's high representative for foreign policy, and Henna Virkkunen, set to lead on technology policy. Moreover, Hungary’s nominee Olivér Várhelyi faced barriers due to concerns regarding his country’s democratic decline.
If multiple nominees were to be rejected, von der Leyen would need to seek alternative candidates from national governments, further postponing her commission beyond the already delayed start date of December 1. Diplomats expressed dismay at the squabbling within the EU, describing it as a 'circular firing squad' while the bloc must face pressing issues, including ongoing conflict in Ukraine and a potential return to power for Donald Trump in the U.S.
The new commission is now prepared to commence work on December 1, nearly six months following the European elections, which voted in a historically high number of far-right MEPs, weakening the political influence of governments in France and Germany.
The compromise reached among party leaders on Wednesday emphasized the importance of rule of law, a pro-Ukraine stance, and a pro-European approach as cornerstones of their cooperation. However, agreement among party leaders does not guarantee unanimous support, necessitating votes from Meloni’s European Conservatives and Reformists, as well as the Greens.
French socialist MEP Christophe Clergeau openly condemned the validation of a far-right executive vice president, specifically referencing Fitto’s nomination, making clear that he would oppose the commission’s approval.
In her first 100 days, von der Leyen has committed to developing a clean industry strategy aimed at securing quality employment while the EU strives for net zero emissions by 2050, as well as crafting a white paper on European defense, plans for agriculture, artificial intelligence, and preparations for the expansion of the bloc.
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