STRASBOURG – European Parliament lawmakers on Wednesday endorsed Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as head of the European Commission, granting her new team the mandate to take office on Dec. 1.
In a session in Strasbourg, 370 lawmakers voted in favor of the new Commission, while 282 opposed it. Following this parliamentary approval, the European Council is expected to formally appoint the Commission via a qualified majority.
Von der Leyen’s upcoming term begins amidst significant geopolitical and domestic challenges, including the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House, rising tensions with China, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the global climate crisis.
In her inaugural 100 days, she has pledged to propose initiatives to help businesses achieve the EU’s 2050 carbon neutrality targets, strengthen European defense, outline a vision for agriculture, and publish reports on planned EU enlargement. The new Commission’s agenda will be instrumental in shaping Europe’s response to pressing global and regional issues in the years ahead.