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The annual State of the EU address is a political balancing act. This annual event is an opportunity for the Presidency of the European Commission to set its course for the coming months, but also to get as many MEPs on board as possible.
Ursula von der Leyen was no exception on Wednesday (10 September). The German leader, who hails from the European People’s Party (EPP), reached out to the centre and left of the hemicycle in a bid to bolster her coalition in the European Parliament.
“She was looking for unity, she was convincing on defence, security, the need to innovate the internal market and, finally, she made significant comments and relevant proposals on Gaza,” liberal Italian MEP Sandro Gozi acknowledged.
In response to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, Ursula von der Leyen proposed suspending the trade section of the association agreement between the EU and Israel. She also put forward the idea of punishing “extremist ministers” in the Israeli government, as well as “violent settlers”.
However, for the Social Democrats, the proposal came too late was too weak in scope.
The Socialists are also critical of the trade agreement concluded this summer by the Commission President with US President Donald Trump.
“The comments were a little disappointing: a staunch defence, with no glimmer of improvement,” lamented Italian MEP Brando Benifei (S&D).
Ursula von der Leyen defended the controversial compromise, which was roundly criticised by MEPs across the political spectrum as a capitulation. “Think of the repercussions of an all-out trade war with the United States,” warned the German leader.
The Green Pact is not forgotten
To cement her coalition, Ursula von der Leyen did not forget to address the ecologists who enabled her to be reappointed for a second term at the head of the Commission. The German leader stated that she wanted to stay on course with her environmental objectives and achieve a climate-neutral economy by 2050.
“She is still sticking to the Green Pact until 2040, or at least she says she is sticking to it until 2050,” said Lena Schilling (Germany/Greens). She hopes that the EPP will be convinced by her speech and tone.
For its part, the far right was not at all taken in by the President of the Commission.
“It’s a very weak speech,” MEP António Tânger Corrêa (Patriots for Europe) said, adding: “It’s a speech that provides no answers, only weak solutions to problems that already exist, which means that there are no new horizons.”
The State of the European Union speech had all the trappings to appeal to the central majority bloc in the European Parliament. Ursula von der Leyen concluded her speech by promising closer cooperation with the pro-European forces that supported her re-election last year. “I will always be ready to iron out differences and find common ground,” she stressed.
The far right preferred to use the day to make its opposition heard in an institutional manner. The Patriots for Europe decided to table a motion of no confidence in the Commission President on the same day. The debate and no-confidence vote are expected to take place next month.
