The European Parliament has given its approval to the 26 Commissioners who will serve in the second Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen. This follows the endorsement from the leaders of the European People’s Party (EPP), the Socialist Group, and the Liberal (Renew) political factions.
The final vote on the new Commission will take place on November 27 during the Plenary session in Strasbourg, where MEPs will decide on its approval. If successful, the Commission is set to assume its responsibilities on December 1.
After prolonged negotiations, the three major political groups, which typically form the “pro-European majority” in the European Parliament, reached a consensus on Wednesday regarding the new Commission’s approval.
Since the hearings for the six Vice Presidents began on November 12, the European Parliament had postponed their evaluation and confirmation to an undisclosed date. The nominations of Italian Raffaele Fitto, Spanish Teresa Ribera, and Hungarian Oliver Varhelyi presented considerable challenges.
The center-left factions, which include the Socialists, Liberals, and Greens, expressed strong opposition to Raffaele Fitto’s nomination as Vice President overseeing Cohesion Policy. Fitto is affiliated with the far-right government of Giorgia Meloni, and the center-left was unwilling to support a Vice Presidency from the far-right.
Similarly, Hungarian Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi faced backlash from center-left parties for his nomination to the health and animal welfare portfolio. During his hearing, he was criticized for not adequately addressing questions on women’s reproductive rights and LGBT rights.
Conversely, the EPP delayed backing Socialist candidate Teresa Ribera, who is poised to manage the comprehensive Green Transition and Competitiveness portfolio. The EPP criticized Ribera, a minister in Pedro Sánchez’s government, for her handling of severe floods in Spain and awaited her testimony before the Spanish parliament, which took place on Wednesday.
Despite these contentious discussions, the EPP, Socialists, and Liberals ultimately approved all candidate Commissioners, including Fitto, Ribera, and Varhelyi, after their leaders signed an agreement to collaborate effectively and uphold European values. (21/11/2024)
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