Incoming EU chief vows to build green superpower

Brussels’ next top official Ursula von der Leyen set out an ambitious plan for a green and digital transformation of the EU economy Wednesday, as she urged MEPs to approve her top team.

The 61-year-old conservative takes office with Europe challenged to find its new role in a dangerous world, and with Brussels’ power undermined by Franco-German rivalry and Britain’s imminent exit.

But, addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the former German defence minister endeavoured to strike an upbeat note, urging lawmakers to approve her 27-strong commission so that she can get to work on December 1.

“I ask for your support to give Europe a new start,” she said, in a largely well-received speech attended by the massed ranks of the nominated commissioners and in which she shifted fluently between English, French and German.

“Our union will embark on transformation that will touch every part of our society and economy and we will do it because it will be the right thing to do, not because it will be easy,” she said.

Hailing the Dutch vice-president that she was obliged to pick as her deputy by EU member states, socialist Frans Timmermans, as the right man for the dossier, she promised a  “European green deal... for the health of our planet, our people and our economy.” - Trade superpower - As well as promising measures to combat climate change, von der Leyen insisted that Europe has the heft to lead the world in a digital economic revolution.

“We are the world’s trading superpower,” she boasted.  “We are the largest source and destination of foreign direct investment anywhere in the world.

“We should harness this twin power of digitalisation and climate transition to boost our industrial base.” Von der Leyen can expect to see her commission approved, but her own appointment to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as president was approved in July with only nine votes more than she needed, a narrow margin in EU politics.

Three of her initial nominees to the commission were rejected during the parliamentary confirmation process -- an unprecedented snub -- weakening her from the outset.

Nevertheless, EU diplomats and parliamentary leaders are cautiously optimistic she will clear Wednesday’s hurdle, a public vote of MEPs at 12:30pm (1130 GMT).

“Our priorities are a crucial part of the von der Leyen commission,” said Manfred Weber, head of the parliament’s centre-right EPP bloc and himself a disappointed former presidential hopeful.

“In 2024 Europe will have the most ambitious and inclusive climate policy in the world, a European border and coast guard, transformed Europol into a European FBI, a master plan to fight cancer and created millions of jobs.” The July vote to confirm von der Leyen was conducted by secret ballot, allowing many MEPs to vote against her in protest at the EU leaders’ political tactics.

But Wednesday’s roll-call to approve the commission as a whole will be conducted openly, helping the main centre-right, social democratic and liberal factions to whip support.

The commission has members from across the political spectrum and 12 out of 27 of the members will be women, not quite the parity that was promised but the highest number ever in the European Commission.

There will nevertheless be opposition. The parliament’s eurosceptic, far-left and right-wing populist parties will vote against, and the sceptical Greens have said they will abstain.