Democracy at work: The vote on von der Leyen and impact of key elections

19 July 2024
EPC Update
#epcupdate #europeancommission #defence

Speakers: Almut Möller, Director for European and Global Affairs and Head of Programme, European Policy Centre; Janis Emmanouilidis, Deputy Chief Executive & Director of Studies, European Policy Centre; Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Executive & Chief Economist, European Policy Centre

Moderator: Jacki Davis, Senior Adviser, European Policy Centre

This online EPC Update discussed the implications of the vote on the new Commission President in the European Parliament which took place on the 18 July as well as the wider political landscape at the start of the EU’s new politico-institutional cycle.

What are the implications of the vote on Ursula von der Leyen’s bid for a second term? What will the consequences be if she fails to get a majority? If her nomination is approved, how will this affect the shape and 'tone' of the new Commission, and what impact will the new EU leadership team have on the Union's inter-institutional system? More broadly, how might the parliamentary elections in France, the UK and the US presidential elections coming this November impact the Union’s future and its relationship with key strategic partners? Finally, the discussion touched upon the Hungarian Presidency of the Council so far, particularly after Prime Minister Victor Orbán's trips to Kiev, Moscow and Beijing within days of taking over the presidency.

Discussion paper: Confronting the permacrisis: Time for a supragovernmental avantgarde https://www.epc.eu/content/Permacrisi...