Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the European Commission, makes a statement in the European Parliament, in Strasbourg.

statement

Strasbourg

appointment of the President of the European Commission (T)

2019 European elections (T)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

Statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, candidate for President of the European Commission

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, Candidate for President of the European Commission, I was overwhelmed and I feel very honoured to be nominated as the president of the commission by the council. When I heard about it yesterday, I decided that my very first stop will be here at Strasbourg, to meet the European Parliament and to go immediately into talks with the parliamentarians because here in the European Parliament is where the heart of democracy of the European democracy is beating. I intend to listen a lot, so that within the next fortnight I am able to develop in the dialogue with the council and the Parliament a vision for the next five years for Europe or the Commission that is based on a intensive cooperation between the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Council.

<p>SOUNDBITE (German) Ursula VON DER LEYEN, Candidate for President of the European Commission, I am overwhelmed, grateful and very honored to have been designated by the European Council as the President of the European Commission. It was very important to me, after this nomination, that I came to Strasbourg first of all, to meet Parliament, to speak with the Members. It is here, in the European Parliament, beats the heart of European democracy and therefore it is so important to immediately start the dialogue. In the next 14 days we will be in intensive talks with the different groups. It is important for me to listen a lot,  so that in 14 days I can set out my vision for the European Union over the next five years before the Parliament , based on a secure, solid foundation arising from the dialogue between , or trilogue, between Council, Commission and Parliament, that we bring together the different positions. It's about a lot, it's about the future of our Europe. We have a long and difficult election campaign behind us, but now it is crucial to show unity. It is crucial to shape our common passion for our Europe, which is so important in this world and that needs to be audible and visible. This is the task of the next 14 days.</p>