During the plenary session in November II 2019, Ursula von der Leyen,&nbsp;President-elect of the EC, presents her team and programme. Parliament voted the entire list of candidates proposed by the President-elect and the Council by simple majority in a roll call vote. The college of Commissioners and their programme is approved. Results of the vote: 461 in favour, 157 against and 89 abstentions.

Parliament’s Conference of Presidents declared the Commissioner-designate hearings process complete on Thursday 21 November 2019.

The new European Commission officially takes up its duties on 1 December 2019.

Election of the 2019-2024 Commission

On 2 July 2019, Ursula von der Leyen was nominated by the European Council for the Presidency of the European Commission.

If confirmed by the European Parliament, she will be the first woman and the first German since Walter Hallstein to hold the office.

She is a German politician, serving as Minister of Defence since 2013 and is a member of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

Ursula von der Leyen

The European Parliament elects the President of the European Commission. First opportunity is the July II session (15-18 July).

After the elections, one of the first tasks of an incoming Parliament is to elect a new President of the European Commission (the EU’s executive body). Member States have already nominated a candidate for the post: Ursula VON DER LEYEN, former German Federal Minister for Defense.

Moreover, Parliament needs to approve the new President of the Commission by an absolute majority (half of the existing MEPs plus one). If the candidate does not obtain the required majority, the Member States need to propose another candidate within a month's time (European Council acting by qualified majority).

Appointment of the President of the European Commission

Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, will deliver her first State of the European Union Address on 16 September 2020.

Every year in September, the President of the European Commission delivers his State of the European Union Address before the European Parliament, taking stock of achievements of the past year and presenting priorities for the year ahead. The President also sets out how the European Commission will address the most pressing challenges the European Union is facing. The speech is followed by a plenary debate.

State of the European Union 2020

EP President Roberta Metsola meets Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa

EU Leaders meet in Budapest for an informal European Council meeting. Competitiveness is on top of the agenda and is discussed in depth during an informal meeting of Heads of State or Government on 8 November 2024, which is expected to result in a ‘Budapest Declaration’.

Informal European Council in Budapest

Parliament to vote on Ursula von der Leyen’s nomination for Commission President

If elected by MEPs on Thursday, Ursula von der Leyen is set to return to the office of European Commission President for the next five years.

At 09.00 on Thursday, she will take the floor in Parliament’s plenary session and outline her vision and plans as Commission President, followed by a debate with MEPs.

The vote by secret paper ballot will take place at 13.00, following the debate. 

Background
Article 14 of the Treaty of the European Union provides that the EP “shall elect the President of the Commission.” In practice, based on Parliament’s Rules of Procedure (rule 128), the candidate proposed by the European Council has to present their political guidelines to Parliament, followed by a debate. Parliament then elects the President of the Commission by a majority of its component MEPs - i.e. 361, in a Parliament of 720 Members. If the candidate does not obtain the required majority, the President will invite the European Council to put forward another within one month, for election in accordance with the same procedure.

Ms von der Leyen has been Commission President since 2019 and was the EPP’s lead candidate in the 6 - 9 June European elections.

Election of the President of the European Commission

EP Plenary session - Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 20 March 2025

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European

EP Plenary session - European Council meetings and European Security

EP Plenary session - Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 19 December 2024

Strasbourg's Plenary session through the lens . Week 4

Pre- summit EPP

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Ursula Von Der LEYEN, EC President and Antonio COSTA, President of the European Council.

EP and EC joint press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission following the Parliament’s vote on the College of Commissioners

New College of Commissioners family photo.

MEPs evaluate the outcome of the 20 March European Council in a plenary debate with Presidents António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen. At their meeting in Brussels, the EU’s heads of state or government focused on how the EU can continue supporting Kyiv against Russia’s aggression, how to strengthen the EU’s security and defence capabilities, how to respond to the situation in the Middle East but also ways to bolster the EU’s competitiveness and discussed migration and multilateralism. Opening statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 20 March 2025: opening statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen assess the outcomes of the March 20 European Council meeting, focusing on the EU's competitiveness and the impact of new U.S. tariffs on Europe. European Council President António Costa emphasized the urgency of strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and boosting defense investment, calling for action to close innovation gaps and cut red tape. He described the 20 March summit as a turning point for EU sovereignty. Meanwhile, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed the goal of a negotiated solution to US tariffs but warned of a strong EU retaliation plan. She also pledged to diversify partnerships and remove barriers in the single market, with upcoming Commission proposals to prevent new obstacles. This news item shows extracts from the statements of President Costa and President von der Leyen, and extracts from the arrival of the EU leaders to the hemicycle.

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 20 March 2025: extracts from the statements by António COSTA, President of the European Council and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

MEPs evaluate the outcome of the 20 March European Council in a plenary debate with Presidents António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen in Strasbourg. MEPs emphasize the need for EU strategic autonomy in response to US tariffs, advocating for a simplified market economy by cutting red tape. However, some caution that economic reforms should not come at the expense of the Green Deal’s goals. This news item shows extracts from the statements of MEPs and atmosphere shots of the Chamber.

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 20 March 2025: extracts from the debate

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, participates at the European Council meeting. Arrival, doorstep and press conference

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, participates at the European Council meeting: extracts from the arrival, doorstep and press conference

EPP leaders meet ahead of the European Council meeting (20/03/2025) in Brussels. EU leaders meet in Brussels to discuss competitiveness and to follow up on the special European Council held on 6 March to address recent developments in Ukraine and the next steps on defence. The next multiannual financial framework (MFF), migration, the latest developments in the Middle East, multilateralism and other global issues are also on the agenda.

EPP leaders meet ahead of the European Council meeting: arrivals and doorsteps

In a joint debate on European security, MEPs assess the results of the 6 March special European Council convened by President António Costa and attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss Ukraine and the need to bolster Europe’s security. At a critical time for Ukraine and European security, as President Donald Trump’s new US administration has paused support for Kyiv and raised questions about future US defence engagement in Europe, MEPs will hear from Ursula von der Leyen, EC President on how the EU plans to strengthen its defence capabilities. MEPs also outline their expectations for the 20 -21 March EU summit, which is expected to focus - besides Ukraine - on the Middle East, Europe’s competitiveness, trade policy, and migration management. Opening statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

European Council meetings and European Security: opening statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

António COSTA, President of the European Council, Adam SZŁAPKA, Polish Minister for European Affairs and by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission review the outcomes of the 6 March Special European Council, set their priorities for the upcoming 20-21 March summit, and discuss the urgent need to reinforce the EU’s security framework and the Commission’s Rearm Europe Plan.

European Council meetings and European Security: extracts from the statements by António COSTA, President of the European Council, Adam SZŁAPKA, Polish Minister for European Affairs and by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

On the 6th March 2025, European leaders meet in Brussels for a special summit to discuss continued support for Ukraine and European defence. Extracts from the participation of Roberta METSOLA, EP President, to the summit.

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

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