Von der Leyen's new commission gets green light

MEPs in Strasbourg have voted to approve a second term for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and her new college of commissioners by a comfortable majority.

Following a three-hour debate, MEPs voted to endorse the new commission by 370 votes to 282, with 36 abstentions, a majority of 88.

Fine Gael's Sean Kelly, Regina O'Doherty, Nina Carberry and Maria Walsh voted in favour, as did Fianna Fáil's Barry Andrews, Barry Cowen, Billy Kelleher and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú.

Sinn Féin's Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion voted against, as did Independent MEP Luke Ming Flanagan and Labour's Aodhán Ó Ríordáin.

Ciaran Mullooly and Michael McNamara both abstained.

Following the vote, Ireland's Commissioner Michael McGrath said: "It is an incredible honour to be the 12th Irish person to serve as EU Commissioner.

"I am conscious of the enormous responsibility that has been entrusted in me and the other incoming commissioners to represent the interests of 450 million EU citizens.

"My own portfolio [Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection] is very broad but at its heart is an overwhelming need to underpin our democratic structures across the European Union and ensure that the rule of law is upheld.

"In this regard, I will be working on a package of measures to underpin free and fair elections, protect media freedom and tackle disinformation.

"I made clear in my hearing that respect for the rule of law is non-negotiable. While I will engage with member countries in an even-handed manner, I will not hesitate to use the tools at my disposal to ensure the rule of law is upheld."

Mr McGrath also said he would be bringing forward legislation on e-commerce platforms which "flooded" the EU market with thousands of unsafe products.

He added: "We live in a digital age and while this undoubtedly brings many benefits to consumers, it also exposes considerable vulnerabilities.

Read more: McGrath confirmed as European Commissioner for Justice after three-hour long hearing

"That is why I will be advancing a Digital Fairness Act which will address amongst other matters, addictive design of digital products, the role of social media influencers, dark patterns, unfair personalisation practices and the issue of digital subscriptions."

Von der Leyen warns of mounting threats to Europe

Ahead of the vote, and invoking Europe's historical struggles to overcome conflict and tyranny, von der Leyen warned of mounting threats to the European system, from the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, to the competitiveness gap relative to the United States and China.

Ms von der Leyen said the EU would have to develop its defence capabilities, promising a proposal on the future of European defence within the first 100 days of the new commission.

She told MEPs: "Russia is spending up to 9% of its GDP on defence. Europe is spending on average 1.9%.

"There is something wrong in this equation. Our defence spending must increase.

"We need a single market for defence. We need to strengthen the defence industrial base."

Ms von der Leyen had previously said the EU needs to invest €500 billion on defence over the next decade if it wants to keep up with Russia and China.

This has become more urgent since Donald Trump was elected as the next US president, amid fears he might reduce the US commitment to European security and support for Ukraine.

She told the chamber in Strasbourg: "Our fight for freedom may look different to generations past. But the stakes are just as high. And…these freedoms will not come for free.

"It will mean making difficult choices.

"It will mean massive investment in our security and prosperity. And above all it will mean staying united and true to our values.

"Finding ways to work with each other - and overcoming fragmentation."

Ms von der Leyen promised that the new commission would focus on reducing the burden of bureaucracy on businesses, and will tackle the housing crisis via the creation of a commissioner for housing policy.

However, she did not elaborate on specific policies.

Despite concern that the commission has been rolling back on the signature policy of her first mandate - the European Green Deal, designed to make the EU carbon neutral by 2050 - President von der Leyen said her new team would deliver on the "goals" of the Green Deal.

"I want to be clear: we must and will stay the course on the goals of the European Green Deal.

"But if we want to be successful in this transition, we must be more agile and better accompany people and business along the way.

"And we need to play to our traditional strengths - our industries and SMEs, our innovators and our workers. This is why we will put forward the Clean Industrial Deal within the first 100 days of the mandate."

Additional reporting AFP