COMMISSION PRESIDENCY: URSULA VON DER LEYEN’S POLICY PRIORITIES This week, the European Parliament elected Ursula von der Leyen, the former German Defence Minister, as the next President of the European Commission with 383 votes, a mere nine votes more than the required majority. Cicero’s team has analysed her expected policy priorities, which will play an important role in determining the policy direction of the next Commission for its mandate running from 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2024. A European federalist, von der Leyen is expected to take an ambitious pro-European approach to proposing new legislation. However, she will likely continue to face opposition from the political groups that rejected her nomination, which includes the far-right and far-left parties, as well as the Greens.
URSULA VON DER LEYEN’S POLICY PRIORITIES
NAME
Institutional
ABOUT • Qualified majority voting on climate, energy, social and taxation, and foreign affairs – required Treaty change • Annual rule of law monitoring mechanism for all Member States • Future of Europe conference to improve the Spitzenkandidaten system from 2020-2022 • Nomination of two Commission Vice-Presidents • Less restrictive stance on fiscal spending • Right of initiative for the European Parliament • Support for Western Balkans – incl. opening accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia • Reduce EU CO2 emissions by 50% in 2030
Climate
Immigration
Social
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European Climate Law – CO2 neutrality by 2050 EU carbon border tax Turn parts of the European Investment Bank into a Climate Bank Sustainable Europe Investment Plan Sustainability chapter in all trade deals New Trade Enforcement officer to monitor compliance New pact on greater immigration burden sharing Standing corps of 10,000 border guards by 2024 European Pillar of Social Rights – legal instrument for minimum wage Gender quotas for company boards European unemployment reinsurance scheme European child guarantee welfare scheme Cicero Group | 1