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Ursula von der Leyen has promised a “European prosperity plan” if she wins a second time period as European Fee president, pledging to scale back regulation and protect the EU’s “aggressive edge” amid fears of the continent falling behind the US and China.
Von der Leyen, who has run the fee since 2019, by way of the coronavirus pandemic and the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, is aiming to win a second five-year time period because the EU’s strongest official in a vote within the European parliament in a while Thursday.
In a pitch to a parliament that has shifted rightward following final month’s elections, she additionally pledged to create new devoted European commissioners for housing, defence, EU enlargement and the Mediterranean area with a remit to sort out migration.
A 31-page coverage proposal launched forward of the vote referenced “funding” 49 instances, interesting to cash-strapped EU governments that wish to see long-delayed progress in higher integrating the continent’s capitals markets to unlock extra non-public financing for defence, inexperienced transition and digital wants.
“Europe wants extra funding. From farming to trade. From digital to strategic applied sciences. But additionally extra funding in folks and their abilities,” mentioned von der Leyen.
The subsequent EU finances, operating from 2028 to 2035, ought to be extra intently linked to respect for the rule of legislation, she added, in addition to making disbursements conditional on reforms and investments, as is at the moment the case with the EU post-pandemic restoration funds.
“We’ll preserve a really clear precept in our finances: respecting the rule of legislation is a should for EU funds. On this finances, and sooner or later,” she informed the parliament, to applause.
She additionally mentioned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s current assembly with Russian President Vladimir Putin was “nothing however an appeasement mission”, vowing to take care of EU assist for Ukraine’s defence towards Moscow.
Von der Leyen must win 361 votes from the 720-strong parliament in Strasbourg in Thursday’s secret poll.
Her coverage proposal doc, agreed with the three centrist political events backing her candidacy, is a pointy pivot away from her first time period, which was dominated by a sweeping plan to fight local weather change.
She mentioned on Thursday that the main target of that Inexperienced Deal would change to implementing present legal guidelines somewhat than passing new ones.
The proposed defence commissioner, lobbied for by EU capitals owing to Russia’s struggle and the growing chance that Donald Trump wins the US election in November and reduces Washington’s dedication to European safety, would search to pool sources on army spending.
Von der Leyen additionally proposed a European-wide air defence system and cyber safety as “initiatives of widespread European curiosity” that would entice EU funding.
EU enterprise teams have lengthy complained about Brussels rules holding them again as they search to compete with the US and China in rising industries corresponding to inexperienced applied sciences.
Von der Leyen proposed to cost a fee vice-president with “implementation and simplification” to make this course of simpler, and known as for a brand new strategy to EU merger insurance policies that may permit corporations to develop at residence and tackle world giants.
“We want a contest coverage that helps corporations to scale up,” she mentioned. “Europe have to be the house of alternative and innovation.”
One member of the European parliament mentioned von der Leyen’s listing of guarantees was “a European Christmas tree” with presents for all events, whereas questioning whether or not it might all be delivered.
For instance, it states the brand new housing commissioner would produce a “European Reasonably priced Housing Plan”, though housing powers relaxation with nationwide governments.
