EU Leaders Back von der Leyen for Second Term as President European Union leaders have overwhelmingly endorsed Ursula von der Leyen for a second five-year term as President of the European Commission. In a vote held in Brussels on Wednesday, von der Leyen secured the support of 383 members of the European Parliament, comfortably exceeding the required majority of 373. Only 364 voted against her, while 36 abstained. Von der Leyen’s re-election is widely seen as a sign of stability and continuity within the EU. She has overseen a number of significant challenges during her first term, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the UK’s exit from the EU. In her acceptance speech, von der Leyen pledged to continue working on a number of priorities, including strengthening Europe’s economy, addressing climate change, and upholding the rule of law. She also stressed the importance of unity and solidarity within the EU. “I am humbled and honored by the trust you have placed in me,” von der Leyen said. “I promise to work tirelessly to deliver for the people of Europe and to build a stronger, more prosperous, and more united EU.” Von der Leyen’s second term will begin on November 1, 2024. She will be the first person to serve two consecutive terms as President of the European Commission. Reaction The vote was welcomed by many EU leaders. “This is a strong signal of support for President von der Leyen and her work,” said Charles Michel, President of the European Council. “She has led the EU through some of its most challenging times, and I am confident that she will continue to do so.” “President von der Leyen has been a strong and effective leader,” said Emmanuel Macron, President of France. “Her re-election is a testament to her commitment to the European project.” However, some MEPs expressed concerns about von der Leyen’s record on issues such as human rights and the rule of law. “Von der Leyen has been too willing to compromise with authoritarian regimes,” said Ska Keller, co-leader of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament. “I hope that she will use her second term to take a stronger stand on these issues.”EU Leadership Shakeup: Von der Leyen, Costa, and Kallas NominatedEU Leadership Shakeup: Von der Leyen, Costa, and Kallas Nominated European Union leaders have reached a consensus to nominate Ursula von der Leyen for a second five-year term as President of the European Commission. This decision was made during a summit in Brussels, where the bloc’s 27 national leaders also selected Antonio Costa, former Prime Minister of Portugal, as the future chair of their European Council meetings and Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister of Estonia, as the next EU foreign policy chief. Charles Michel, the current chair of the European Council, expressed satisfaction with the outcomes. The appointments represent a continuation of centrist pro-EU leadership, despite the rise of far-right parties in recent European Parliament elections. Von der Leyen’s nomination, along with those of Costa and Kallas, received broad support. However, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban opposed the appointments. Von der Leyen’s nomination requires further approval from the European Parliament. She expressed her intention to secure a broad majority for a strong Europe. The leadership package reflects a balance in political ideology and geographical representation. Von der Leyen is from the center-right, Costa from the center-left, and Kallas from the European liberal group. During the summit, the EU also signed a security agreement with Ukraine, bolstering its support for Kyiv’s efforts against Russia’s invasion. The agreement emphasizes the EU’s commitment to assisting Ukraine in various areas of security policy, including arms deliveries and defense industry cooperation. The leadership appointments and security agreement highlight the EU’s determination to maintain unity and address geopolitical challenges, such as the ongoing war in Europe and global instability.EU Leaders Endorse von der Leyen for Second Term European Union leaders have unanimously agreed to nominate Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as President of the European Commission. The decision was made at a summit in Brussels, where leaders hailed von der Leyen’s leadership during her first term. Von der Leyen, a former German defense minister, became the first woman to hold the position of Commission President in 2019. She has faced numerous challenges during her first term, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In her acceptance speech, von der Leyen outlined her priorities for her second term, including strengthening the EU’s economy, addressing climate change, and promoting democratic values. She also emphasized the importance of unity within the EU in the face of external challenges. “We have achieved a lot in the past five years, but there is still much to do,” von der Leyen said. “I am committed to working with you all to build a stronger, more prosperous, and more united Europe.” The European Parliament will now vote on von der Leyen’s nomination. If she is approved by the Parliament, she will begin her second term in October 2024.