The Eurodeputies gave a long round of applause to former President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, mentioned during the speech by the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in the Strasbourg plenary session.
“Choices define destiny, and in a world full of adversities, destiny depends on what we do now. Europe is facing a decisive choice that will shape our position in the world over the next five years. Europe cannot control dictators and demagogues worldwide, but it can choose to protect our democracy,” said Ursula von der Leyen in her candidacy speech for the Commission Presidency at the Eurochamber Plenary, emphasizing the need for a “strong Europe.”
Von der Leyen announced a “Vice President for Implementation, Simplification, and Interinstitutional Relations” among the responsibilities of the upcoming EU executive. “We need to make doing business easier and faster in Europe. I will prioritize speed, coherence, and simplification as key political objectives,” highlighted von der Leyen in her political guidelines, stating that “each commissioner will focus on reducing administrative burdens and simplifying implementation: less bureaucracy and reporting, more trust, better enforcement, faster authorizations.”
“I am convinced that the post-World War II version of Europe is still the best version of the EU in history. I will not allow extreme polarization in our society to be accepted, and I will not allow extremism or demagogy to destroy our European way of life,” von der Leyen reiterated, delivering her speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg for the reconfirmation at the helm of the Commission.
“Our competitiveness needs a strong push: the foundations of the global economy are changing: those who stand still will fall behind, and those who are not competitive will be dependent. The race is on, and I want Europe to shift gears,” she added. “Our top priorities in the next mandate will be prosperity and competitiveness,” she emphasized.
“Two weeks ago, a European Prime Minister went to Moscow,” von der Leyen then said, referring to Viktor Orban. “This so-called peace mission was only a mission of acquiescence, appeasement, a policy of excessive concessions.” “Just two days later, Putin’s jets struck a children’s hospital. It was a message from the Kremlin to freeze us all. No one wants peace more than Ukraine, and the EU will support Ukraine as long as necessary,” she declared.
LIVE STREAM
In the coming years, “Next Generation EU will end, but our investment needs will not,” stated Ursula von der Leyen in her re-candidacy speech in front of the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg. “To leverage private investments, we also need public funding,” she emphasized.
“The goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 will be enshrined in our EU climate law,” confirmed von der Leyen.
“The bloodshed in Gaza must stop, here and now. Humanity cannot bear anymore. We are working for increased support to the Palestinian National Authority,” she added in her speech. “The two-state solution is the best way to ensure security for both Israelis and Palestinians. The people of the region deserve peace and prosperity, and the EU will stand with them,” she concluded.
After von der Leyen’s speech, at 11 a.m., the session will be suspended, and voting will resume at 1 p.m.
Von der Leyen’s 30-page Guidelines, ‘EU’s Choice’
“Europe is now faced with a clear choice. The choice to tackle the uncertain world around us alone. Or to unite our societies and rally around our values. A choice to let extremists and appeasers prevail. Or to ensure that our democratic forces remain strong,” reads Ursula von der Leyen’s political guidelines, emphasizing that “the best choice is Europe.” “It is essential that the democratic center in Europe holds. But if this center is to hold, it must address the concerns and challenges that citizens face,” it further reads.
The President-designate of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, commits to “stay the course on the European Green Deal and intends to launch a plan for clean industry in the first 100 days of the mandate.” This was highlighted in the guidelines for the next five years published before the debate in the European Parliament. “This will pave the way towards the goal of reducing emissions by 90% by 2040, which we will propose to include in our European climate law,” the document states, announcing the proposal of a law to accelerate industrial decarbonization.
“Looking ahead,” the political guidelines read, “the Clean Industrial Deal must enable us to invest more together in clean and strategic technologies and energy-intensive industries,” and “for this, I will propose a new European Competitiveness Fund within the framework of our proposal for a new, strengthened budget.” “Regarding public funding and investments, the top priority will be to ensure the use of resources available through NextGenerationEU and the current budget,” she emphasized.
Applause for von der Leyen, but none from Lega and Patrioti
After ten minutes of speech by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in the Strasbourg plenary, the MEPs had already given the president 6 long rounds of applause. However, none of the MEPs sitting in the Patriot benches, including the League, applauded.
Patrioti shout ‘Bravo Orban’ after von der Leyen’s condemnation
Applause and shouts of “Bravo Orban” were heard in the Strasbourg plenary from the Patriot benches as the president condemned the Hungarian Prime Minister’s trip to Moscow. The cries were drowned out by a lengthy applause from the Chamber at the President’s words, clearly rejecting Viktor Orban’s trip to Moscow.
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