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Von der Leyen defines Ribera as a “genuine and devoted” European

by AI | 27.Nov 2024 | Europe in brief AI

He promises to govern “from the center” and appeals to European values to defend freedoms and security.

The third vice president and minister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge of the Government of Spain, Teresa Ribera, during the handover of the ministry portfolio to Sara Aagesen, until now Secretary of State for Energy, at the ministry headquarters, on November 25, 2024, in Madrid (Spain). Photo: A. Pérez Meca / Europa Press

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Brussels – The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has described her future first vice-president, the Spanish socialist Teresa Ribera, as a “true and devoted” European with whom she hopes to always work for the European interest and who will be responsible for Competition and Clean, Fair, and Competitive Transition.

This is how she presented her speech before the plenary of the European Parliament gathered in Strasbourg (France), which at noon will vote on the approval of her new College of Commissioners, which, if the forecasts are met, will have the support of a sufficient majority of ‘popular’, socialist and liberal Europeans – plus votes from some Greens and some Conservatives and Reformists – to take over from the outgoing Executive already this Sunday, December 1st.

“She is well prepared to ensure that we have a modern competition policy that supports our ambitions. She is a true and devoted European,” said Von der Leyen of Ribera, present alongside the rest of the College in the Hemicycle and whose appointment was applauded by a large part of the MEPs present.

“Together, we will always work for the European interest,” concluded Von der Leyen, who also wanted to make it clear that she maintains her commitment to present within the first 100 days of office the already announced Pact for a Clean Industry, with which to unlock investment, create leading markets for clean technology, and set the conditions for European companies to grow and be able to compete with rivals in China or the United States.

The approval of Von der Leyen’s second Commission was left hanging last week for several days due to the cross-veto between the European People’s Party to Ribera, for her management of the DANA, and the social democrats to granting a vice-presidency to the ultra-conservative candidate from Italy, Raffaele Fitto.

Finally, the agreement for a legislature with a “pro-European” agenda among populists, social democrats and liberals in the European Parliament allowed both vetoes to be lifted without changes in the competencies of Ribera or Fitto.

In her intervention, the German conservative has committed to governing in her second term “from the center” and with all “pro-European” forces to defend the freedoms “that are not free,” overcome “fragmentation” within the EU, and enhance competitiveness and security as priorities for the next five years.

Von der Leyen faces a second term that, if confirmed at noon to pass the Europarliament’s exam, will begin its work this same Sunday, December 1st. “We are ready to start working immediately,” said Von der Leyen before the plenary, attended also by the 26 commissioners who will accompany her in the legislature.

She also promised the MEPs that she will address the “concerns” that they recorded during the hearings in which her commissioners and vice-presidents were examined, although she has not specified how it will influence the mission letters already sent to each member of her team. (November 27)

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