Ursula von der Leyen is expected to be confirmed for a second term as president of the European Commission by the European Parliament today on the basis of a working programme for the years 2024-2029 that emphasizes security issues.
A fundamental general proposal is to create a “Preparedness Union” to make the union more resilient in the face of shocks and not least cyber-related shocks.
The Green Deal and climate mitigation policies of the previous term are de-emphasised though still present.
Von der Leyen’s programme also calls for a change in EU treaties to make the bloc better able to respond to today’s geopolitical environment.
“We will of course focus on what we can already do, of which there is a lot. But we should be more ambitious,” von der Leyen told the new EU legislative assembly.
“I believe we need treaty change where it can improve our union. And I want to work on that with this House. And this will be part of a closer partnership between the commission and the parliament,” von der Leyen said.
Trade: ‘Buy European’ in strategic procurement and economic statecraft
The vision of trade policy set out in her programme continues on the path laid out over the last five years: an emphasis on domestic industrial policy in the area of tech and clean energy, more ‘international partnerships’ rather than free trade agreements and a greater emphasis on trade defence.
“We need a new economic foreign policy for today’s realities,” says von der Leyen’s programme. “The three central planks of this will be economic security, trade, and investment in partnerships.”
“The commission will prioritise advancing Europe’s economic security and economic statecraft,” her programme states.
Von der Leyen breaks a long-held taboo in Brussels over public procurement policy by introducing for the first time the idea of ‘Buy European’ provisions – long called for by France.
“I will propose a revision of the Public Procurement Directive,” von der Leyen announced in her programme. “This will enable preference to be given to European products in public procurement for certain strategic sectors,” she added.
The aim is to “help ensure EU added value for our citizens, along with security of supply for vital technologies, products and services.”
