Members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg have cast their votes in favor of granting a second term to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and her newly appointed college of commissioners, achieving a solid majority.
After a three-hour debate, MEPs endorsed the new commission with a vote tally of 370 in favor, 282 against, and 36 abstentions, securing a majority of 88 votes.
Members of Fine Gael, including Sean Kelly, Regina O’Doherty, Nina Carberry, and Maria Walsh, supported the motion, as did Fianna Fáil representatives Barry Andrews, Barry Cowen, Billy Kelleher, and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú.
Against the motion were Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion, along with Independent MEP Luke Ming Flanagan and Labour’s Aodhán Ó Ríordáin.
Post-vote, Ireland’s Commissioner Michael McGrath remarked: “It is an incredible honour to be the 12th Irish person to serve as EU Commissioner.”
“I am aware of the significant responsibility bestowed upon me and the other incoming commissioners, representing the interests of 450 million EU citizens.”
“My portfolio [Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection] is quite extensive, but fundamentally, it aims to strengthen our democratic structures across the European Union and uphold the rule of law.”
“In this context, I will be working on a set of measures to ensure free and fair elections, safeguard media freedom, and combat disinformation.”
“I made it clear during my hearing that respect for the rule of law is non-negotiable. While I will engage with member states in a balanced manner, I will not hesitate to utilize the tools at my disposal to maintain the rule of law.”
Mr. McGrath expressed that it is an ‘incredible honour’ to become the 12th Irish individual to serve as an EU Commissioner.
He also mentioned that he would be introducing legislation concerning e-commerce platforms, which have “flooded” the EU market with numerous unsafe products.
He added: “Living in a digital age presents many advantages for consumers, but it also reveals considerable vulnerabilities.”
Read more: McGrath confirmed as European Commissioner for Justice after a three-hour-long hearing
“That is why I will advocate for a Digital Fairness Act to address issues such as addictive design of digital products, the influence of social media personalities, dark patterns, unfair personalization practices, and concerns regarding digital subscriptions.”
Von der Leyen cautions about increasing threats to Europe
In advance of the vote, invoking Europe’s historic battles against conflict and tyranny, von der Leyen alerted MEPs to escalating threats to the European framework, citing the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as the competitive disparity with the United States and China.
Ms. von der Leyen emphasized the necessity for the EU to enhance its defense capabilities, pledging to propose a plan for the future of European defense within the initial 100 days of the new commission.
She addressed MEPs: “Russia allocates up to 9% of its GDP to defense. Europe, on the other hand, allocates an average of 1.9%.”
“There is an imbalance in this equation. Our defense spending must see an increase.”
“We require a unified market for defense to fortify our defense industrial base.”
Ms. von der Leyen previously stated that the EU needs to invest €500 billion in defense over the next decade to keep pace with Russia and China.
This urgency has intensified following Donald Trump’s election as the next US president, amid concerns he may lessen the US commitment to European security and support for Ukraine.
She conveyed to the chamber in Strasbourg: “Our struggle for freedom may differ from that of past generations. However, the stakes remain equally high. And…these freedoms will not be secured without cost.”
“It will require making tough decisions.”
“It will necessitate substantial investments in our security and prosperity. Most importantly, it will require us to remain united and uphold our values.”
“We must find methods to collaborate and overcome divisions.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented her agenda for a second term.
Ms. von der Leyen assured that the new commission would concentrate on alleviating bureaucratic burdens on businesses and address the housing crisis by establishing a commissioner dedicated to housing policy.
However, she did not specify particular policies.
Despite concerns that the commission has been retreating from the cornerstone policy of her first term – the European Green Deal aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 – President von der Leyen affirmed her new team’s commitment to fulfilling the “goals” of the Green Deal.
“I want to be unequivocal: we must and will adhere to the objectives of the European Green Deal.”
“But to achieve success in this transition, we must be more agile and better support individuals and businesses throughout the process.”
“We also need to leverage our traditional strengths – our industries and SMEs, our innovators, and our workforce. Therefore, we will propose the Clean Industrial Deal within the first 100 days of our mandate.”
Additional reporting by AFP
