[ad_1]
satisfy
Ursula von der Leyen’s first year at the helm of the European Commission was marked by the crown crisis. A budget.
The first woman to head the European Commission touches the big ladle at the beginning of her stay in Brussels. Anyone who knew Ursula von der Leyen from her time in Germany was prepared for this.
The successful German minister wanted to show right from the start that he could also be president. Its slogan “A Union that wants to achieve more” has been on a giant poster at the Commission’s headquarters in Brussels for weeks.
Great announcements
A Union would soon be found that wants to achieve more, especially in climate policy. With the “Green Deal”, Europe will be the first climate-neutral continent since 2050, according to the announcement. Already in the spring, the Commission managed to put a European climate law into motion, which will have to overcome another obstacle at the EU summit in December.
There are still many ambiguities regarding financing or projects for the energy transition. There is also the question of how the President of the Commission can convince Member States such as Poland, which continue to rely heavily on coal mining, as well as agriculture and the automotive industry, of the “Green Deal”.
Reducing Ursula von der Leyen’s first year as Commission President to the “Green Deal” alone would not do justice to the big doctorate announcements. The EU should also be at the forefront of digitization and be taken seriously as a geopolitical powerhouse on the world stage. Such big announcements are typical of politics Ursula von der Leyen, says German journalist Daniel Goffart, who wrote a biography about von der Leyen alongside Ulrike Demmer.
And then came the pandemic
These were scenes from this year’s spring that hadn’t been seen in Europe for decades. Member States are closing their borders, the free movement of people has effectively stopped and protective equipment is in short supply. Ursula von der Leyen tries to take over coordination in the crown crisis, but it is often a step too late and is hardly heard in EU countries. Responsibilities for borders and health policy lie with the Member States.
It looks different when it comes to financial capabilities. To support the countries heavily burdened by the Crown, von der Leyen responded with great promise. With recovery resp. Funds for reconstruction will be made available for 750 billion euros. The top German politician depends on the support of Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron.
After days of negotiations, the reconstruction fund is confirmed in a modified form by the heads of state and government. Von der Leyen can use the fund to expand its power, as the Commission can issue bonds on the capital market to raise the money it needs.
The recovery fund is not an aid package that von der Leyen can claim as the only success, but her many years of experience helped her get this historic aid package off the ground.
However, the fund for the rebuild is not yet in the dry towels. The 750 billion euros and the long-term budget are currently blocked by Hungary and Poland. The President of the Commission is once again faced with a disunited Europe that should remain united, especially now during the pandemic.
Source link
