Brussels (Brussels Morning) – European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen blamed far-right parties for wanting to “ruin” Europe. Speaking in Munich, she warned against taking the EU for granted and called for stronger defence, migration, and climate policies.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has blamed far-right parties for wanting to “ruin” Europe. She made the comment during the final campaign rally of her conservative CDU-CSU party bloc in Munich. Von der Leyen is pursuing a second term at the helm of the Commission.
“Today’s Europe is a great gift,” stated von der Leyen at the final campaign occasion of her German CDU-CSU party bloc before the EU elections, taking place from 6 to 9 June all over the EU.
What Caution Did Von der Leyen Give Regarding the EU?
She cautioned to not take the European Union for granted. She expressed that the EU is “being contested like never before by populists, extremists and demagogues”, referring amongst others to Marine Le Pen in France and the AfD party in Germany. “These extremists have one thing in common: they want to weaken, destroy and ruin our Europe,” she added and emphasised that she would “never allow that to happen”.
What Defense Measures Does Von der Leyen Propose?
Concerning the Russian threat, Von der Leyen called for a more robust common defence policy. “If we want to safeguard peace on our continent, we should not hesitate,” she stated. According to her, Europe concretely needs to invest more in its defence and defence industry. “We want a Europe that can defend itself,” she stated. Von der Leyen is also campaigning for a uniform European migration policy and more climate protection.
According to polls, the sister groups CDU and CSU will succeed in the European elections in Germany by a wide margin. Von der Leyen herself aspires to a second term as the chief of the European Commission, which she has led since 2019. She is also generally noticed as the frontrunner for a second term, but diplomats warn that her bid could be complicated.
What Achievements Has Von der Leyen Made During First Term?
In July 2019, the European Council appointed Ursula von der Leyen to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker, and she was selected as the 13th president of the European Commission by the European Parliament on 16 July. Von der Leyen assumed office on 1 December 2019, following the permission of her nominated College of Commissioners by the European Parliament.
Throughout her first mandate, von der Leyen, a gifted speaker, agile intermediate and enthusiastic traveller, has fostered close links with the majority of heads of state and government.
