Greens/EFA Group vote for von der Leyen after securing major wins for people & planet

Today (18.07.2024), the majority of MEPs (401) led by the four main democratic groups of the Greens/EFA, EPP, S&D and Renew have elected Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission. The Greens/EFA Group has secured commitments from the new President to continue the Green Deal, protect democracy and build a more socially just Europe. This vote confirms a four-group democratic majority in the House and prevents the far-right from driving the agenda of the EU over the next five years.

Terry Reintke MEP, President of the Greens/EFA Group comments: 

"We would like to congratulate Ursula von der Leyen on her re-election as Commission President. We would like to thank her for her fair and trustworthy negotiations over recent weeks. The four group majority is holding firm and is vital for defending our democracy against the far-right. We want to build on this majority to deliver for citizens.

"We welcome the commitments she has taken to build on the success of the Green Deal, to develop a climate-neutral industrial policy and boost just transition funding. During these negotiations we have secured priorities for our group that we believe Europe urgently needs to become more socially just, such as an EU affordable housing plan and an EU-anti-poverty plan, and action to protect democracy and the rule of law.

“We have huge challenges ahead of us. We are looking forward to cooperating in a constructive and faithful manner with other democratic groups to deliver for citizens in Europe. That work is only beginning today. The next step will be to confirm the 26 Commissioners and their portfolios. We will carefully scruitinise whether the new Commission as a whole will live up to our demands.”

Bas Eickhout MEP, President of the Greens/EFA Group, comments: 

“Today, we are taking a leap of faith in voting for the Commission President. We have a responsibility to our voters, to the future habitability of our planet and we do not take this decision lightly. We are ready to build on the trust we created in negotiating to see our priorities reflected in the President’s political guidelines. 

“Now Ursula von der Leyen must show that she is serious about making further progress on the Green Deal, building a competitive green and climate-neutral industrial policy, a credible investment plan for Europe, and urgent action against the enemies of democracy. This would also mean that we need to strengthen her agenda with concrete plans for a fossil fuel phase out, social investments, and a focus on a more humane migration policy ensuring protection for those in need.

“The majority against the far-right must hold for the future. We must not let our guard down in the face of growing far right forces that work to strip away our rights and destroy our democracy. All democratic groups in the European Parliament must take their shared responsibility to unite to stand up to the far-right. The far-right represents the interests of autocrats like the Russian President and can never be a reliable partner.”