Von der Leyen will invest more in EU defence
Ursula von der Leyen will once again become EU Commission President. She has clearly stated her goal. Europe should be "strong" and be able to defend itself. Demagogues should not be able to destroy the European way of life. There is sharp criticism of Hungary's Prime Minister.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke in her application speech for a second term for a "strong Europe" in a "time of great fear and uncertainty" before the parliamentarians in Strasbourg. She declared that she would never accept that demagogues and extremists destroy our European way of life.
Sharp criticism was expressed by von der Leyen against the Moscow trip of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, without mentioning him directly. "This so-called peace mission was nothing more than an appeasement mission," she said, alluding to the British appeasement policy towards Adolf Hitler in World War II. Two days later, Russia attacked a children's hospital in Ukraine. This was a clear message from Russia, she explained. "Russia is counting on Europe and the West being weak," she stated. "And some in Europe are playing along." The Ukraine must be given everything it needs to resist and emerge victorious, she continued. Russia is still on the offensive in the east of Ukraine.
In the face of Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, she also spoke out in favor of building a "real European Union of Defense." For this, the EU would have to invest more in its security. The NATO would remain the pillar of European defense.
A vote on a second term for the 65-year-old CDU politician is scheduled for the day. She needs at least 361 votes of the total 720 parliamentarians. The European People's Party (EVP), Social Democrats, and Liberals have already understood each other for a re-election of von der Leyen. Together they have 401 votes. However, it is unclear how many dissenters there may be during the vote.
- Ursula von der Leyen, in her speech for a second term as EU Commission President, emphasized the need for a "strong Europe" capable of defending itself against demagogues and extremists who threaten the European way of life, specifically mentioning the Attack on Ukraine as a concern.
- In response to the Attack on Ukraine, the European Commission, led by President von der Leyen, has advocated for a "real European Union of Defense," calling for increased investment in security and reaffirming NATO as the cornerstone of European defense.
- The EU's stance on Russia's actions in Ukraine and its defense policy have been met with criticism from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who embarked on a "peace mission" to Moscow, which von der Leyen criticized as an "appeasement mission."
- As the debate over German defense policy and EU leadership continues, with criticism of Viktor Orban and calls for a stronger European Union, the future of NATO's role in European defense remains a topic of political discussion in Europe.
