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

MEPs assess the outcome of the October European Council meeting, in a debate with Presidents Costa and von der Leyen. During their meeting, EU leaders focused on Ukraine, the Middle East, security and defence, competitiveness, housing and migration

EP Plenary debate on October European Council

EP Plenary holds a joint debate on two motions of censure against the European Commission, followed by two separate votes on Thursday.

According to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, a motion of censure in respect of the Commission may be submitted to the President by one 10th of the component Members of Parliament, i.e. 72 MEPs.

The reception of two admissible motions will be formally announced to plenary on Monday, before the joint debate with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.. Two separate votes, by roll call, will take place on Thursday. To be adopted, a motion must secure a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, representing a majority of the component Members of Parliament.

On 10 July, Parliament rejected a motion of censure against the Commission, by 175 votes in favour and 360 against, with 18 abstentions.

EP Plenary debate on two motions of censure against the European Commission

At 09.00 on Wednesday, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives her first State of the European Union address since being re-elected, followed by a discussion with MEPs.

In her speech, von der Leyen is expected to outline the impact of the Commission’s work since it started its new mandate, and plans for the future. She is set to focus on the global challenges the EU is facing, including EU-US relations, the EU’s continued support for Ukraine in its war against Russia’s aggression, European defence and security, sustainable prosperity and competitiveness, the EU’s twin green and digital transition, and how to protect democracy and core EU values. 

In their reactions, MEPs will assess the Commission’s work and its plans for the year ahead, while also presenting their own priorities. The annual State of the Union debate allows MEPs to scrutinise the European Commission’s work and help to steer EU policy.

The State of the European Union debate is a key moment of accountability for the European Commission towards the EU’s democratically elected representatives, fostering a more transparent and democratic Union.

State of the European Union 2025 debate

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 23 October 2025

EP Plenary session - The new 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework: architecture and governance

EP Plenary session - Preparation of the European Council meeting of 23-24 October 2025

EP Plenary session - Commission Work Programme 2026

EU Covenant of Mayors Ceremony 2025 Cities and Towns Securing Europe's Future

EP Plenary session - United response to recent Russian violations of the EU Member States’ airspace and critical infrastructure

EP Plenary session - Motions of censure

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Ursula Von Der Leyen, EC President

EP Plenary session - State of the European Union - #SOTEU2025

This news item presents excerpts from the debate on the conclusions of the European Council meeting on 23 October 2025. Members of the European Parliament assess the results of the October European Council meeting in a debate with President Von der Leyen, focusing on Ukraine, the Middle East, security and defence, competitiveness, housing and migration. President Von der Leyen stressed the need to accelerate the transition to clean energy while boosting growth and competitiveness, as well as unwavering support for Ukraine, especially now that President Putin is using winter as a weapon against that country. MEPs expressed their concerns about the energy transition, defence and economic competitiveness.

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025: extracts from the debate

&lt;p>Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission opens the debate on the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025. MEPs assess the outcome of the October European Council meeting. During their meeting, EU leaders focused on Ukraine, the Middle East, security and defence, competitiveness, housing and migration.&lt;/p>

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025: opening statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission, opens the debate on the architecture and governance of the EU’s 2028-2034 long-term budget (multiannual financial framework - MFF). Parliament’s lead MEPs have warned that setting the spending ceiling at 1.26% of the EU-27’s gross national income, as proposed by the Commission in July, will force cuts to flagship programmes and will not meet citizens’ expectations while debt repayments on the post-pandemic recovery instrument loom. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

The new 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework: architecture and governance: opening statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

This News item presents extracts from the debate on the new 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework. MEPs and Commission and Council representatives discuss the architecture and governance of the EU’s 2028-2034 long-term budget (multiannual financial framework - MFF). Parliament’s lead MEPs have warned that setting the spending ceiling at 1.26% of the EU-27’s gross national income, as proposed by the Commission in July, will force cuts to flagship programmes and will not meet citizens’ expectations while debt repayments on the post-pandemic recovery instrument loom.

The new 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework: extracts from the debate

Arrivals and doorsteps by EPP (European People's Party) leaders at Hôtel Sofitel Brussels, ahead of the European Council meeting (23/10/2025). EU Heads of State and Government are meeting in Brussels to discuss Ukraine, European defence, recent developments in the Middle East, competitiveness, housing and migration.

EPP leaders meet ahead of the European Council meeting (23/10/2025): arrivals and doorsteps

This video presents extracts from the debate on the meeting of Heads of State or Government in Brussels on 23 October They discuss how the EU can continue to support Ukraine against Russia’s aggression, as well as the EU’s response to recent developments in the Middle East, where the release of the remaining hostages and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza followed the first phase of a peace agreement between Hamas and Israel. At their meeting, EU leaders also focus on strengthening Europe’s economic competitiveness, guided by the Competitiveness Compass and the Draghi Report, which call for higher public investment and wide-ranging economic reforms. They also address Europe’s housing crisis, defence and security policy, and ways to manage migration flows and ensure border protection. This transcription if the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025: extracts from the debate

Opening statements by Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, before the debate on the preparation of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025. Ahead of the meeting of Heads of State or Government in Brussels on 23 October, plenary discusses how the EU can continue to support Ukraine against Russia’s aggression, as well as the EU’s response to recent developments in the Middle East, where the release of the remaining hostages and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza followed the first phase of a peace agreement between Hamas and Israel. At their meeting, EU leaders also focus on strengthening Europe’s economic competitiveness, guided by the Competitiveness Compass and the Draghi Report, which call for higher public investment and wide-ranging economic reforms. They will also address housing crisis, defence and security policy and migration. This transcription if the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 23 October 2025: opening statement by Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission

Plenary makes a first assessment of the policy and legislative initiatives the Commission aims to take in the year ahead, focusing on strengthening Europe's competitiveness and creating jobs, including by reducing dependencies, bolstering Europe's defense and security, addressing migration challenges by fully implementing the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, tackling the impacts of climate change and protecting the environment and safeguarding democracy, rule of law, and European values in the face of foreign interference. 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.

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

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