The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, presented today to the European Parliament in Strasbourg her political program for the next five years, if she is re-elected for a second term, quoted by BTA.
Economics
Von der Leyen promised a “pragmatic Green Deal” and urged the EU to speed up the deepening of the single market, with less bureaucracy. According to her, European investments in clean technologies in recent years have far outstripped those of the US and China. She promised to propose a program to attract private investment in this area.
"We must end dependence on Russian fossil fuels forever," Von der Leyen insisted.
Security and Defense
The President of the EC proposed that the EU join forces in the field of defense with local production and common projects, including the development of a common anti-missile shield.
Von der Leyen criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's mission to Moscow and pointed out that no one wants a just peace more than Ukrainians. "We will be with Ukraine as long as necessary," she pointed out.
"For the first time in decades, our freedom is under threat. We have a duty to defend Europe, we need a European Defense Union. We need to create a single defense market," Von der Leyen said.
The President of the EC promised in her second mandate to propose a tripling of the forces of the European border service “Frontex” and doubling the composition of Europol with the provision of the right for cross-border activity.
"Migrants are people like us. We need a common approach to the return of illegal migrants," she said and suggested having a European Commissioner for the Mediterranean.
According to her, the EU has a moral and political responsibility to accept more countries into the European family.
Society
Von der Leyen has promised to offer further relief for European farmers so that they have a decent income and to appoint a European Commissioner for access to housing.
She proposed that the EU introduce measures against online harassment and the addictive settings of some platforms.
In her words, a “European shield” against external attempts to destroy democracy. "The EU should have an anti-disinformation service that works in cooperation with national security services," Von der Leyen pointed out.
"The EU must support independent journalism, promote media literacy," she said.
"The fight against corruption and the rule of law will be the core of our work. Compliance with legality will remain mandatory to receive EU funds," Von der Leyen added in his speech.
Later today MEPs will vote on her candidacy and the result is expected in the afternoon.