Von der Leyen Commission II

European Commission since 2024 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The second von der Leyen Commission is the current European Commission, in office since 1 December 2024. It consists of one commissioner from each of the member states of the European Union – including Ursula von der Leyen, its president, who is from Germany.[1][2]

Date formed1 December 2024
Total no. of commissioners27
Member parties
  •   EPP (13)
  •   PES (5)
  •   None (5)
  •   ALDE Party (3)
  •   ECR Party (1)
Quick facts Date formed, People and organisations ...
Von der Leyen Commission II

8th Commission of the European Union
The College of Commissioners in 2024
Date formed1 December 2024
People and organisations
President of the CommissionUrsula von der Leyen (EPP, GER)
Total no. of commissioners27
Member parties
  •   EPP (13)
  •   PES (5)
  •   None (5)
  •   ALDE Party (3)
  •   ECR Party (1)
History
Election(s)2024 European Parliament election
Legislature term(s)Tenth
Predecessorvon der Leyen Commission I
Close

The Commission was approved by the European Parliament on 27 November with 51% of the majority, the least supported European Commission by the Parliament since 1993, when it was given the right to vote on the college.[3][4]

College of Commissioners

The second Ursula von der Leyen commission will be organised on three levels:[5]

  1. president;
  2. executive vice presidents;
  3. commissioners.

Regardless of the three-level structure of the commission, the president of the commission emphasised that all commissioners share collective responsibility for decisions made by the Commission.[5]

More information Portfolio, Portrait ...
Von der Leyen Commission II[6]
Portfolio Portrait Name EU Party
(N. Party)
Member state Directorate General[7] Took office Left office Ref.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen EPP
(CDU)
Germany SG, SJ, COMM 1 December 2024 [3]
Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas ALDE
(ER)
Estonia EEAS, FPI 1 December 2024 [6]
Executive Vice-President and European Commissioner for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition Teresa Ribera PES
(PSOE)
Spain COMP 1 December 2024 [6]
Executive Vice-President and European Commissioner for Digital and Frontier Technologies Henna Virkkunen EPP
(Kok)
Finland CNECT, DIGIT 1 December 2024 [6]
Executive Vice-President and European Commissioner for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy Stéphane Séjourné Independent[a]
(RE)
France GROW 1 December 2024 [6]
Executive Vice-President and European Commissioner for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness Roxana Mînzatu PES
(PSD)
Romania EMPL, EAC 1 December 2024 [6]
Executive Vice-President and European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto ECR
(FdI)
Italy REGIO 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations, and Transparency Maroš Šefčovič PES (susp.)
(Smer)
Slovakia TRADE, TAXUD, OP 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity and Commissioner for Implementation and Simplification Valdis Dombrovskis EPP
(V)
Latvia ECFIN, EUROSTAT 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas EPP
(ND)
Greece MOVE 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner EPP
(ÖVP)
Austria HOME 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva EPP
(GERB)
Bulgaria RTD, JRC 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen EPP
(CSV)
Luxembourg AGRI 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth Wopke Hoekstra EPP
(CDA)
Netherlands CLIMA, TAXUD 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration Piotr Serafin EPP
(KO)
Poland BUDG, HR, DGT, SCIC, OLAF, IAS, OIL, OIB, EPSO, PMO, EUSA 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall EPP
(M)
Sweden ENV 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union Maria Luís Albuquerque EPP
(PSD)
Portugal FISMA 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis Independent Cyprus MARE 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, and Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib ALDE
(MR)
Belgium ECHO 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture, and Sport Glenn Micallef PES
(PL)
Malta EAC 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen PES
(S)
Denmark ENER 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos Independent[b] Slovenia NEAR 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica EPP
(HDZ)
Croatia MENA 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi Independent[c] Hungary SANTE 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela Independent[d]
(STAN)
Czech Republic INTPA 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius EPP
(TS-LKD)
Lithuania DEFIS 1 December 2024 [6]
European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Michael McGrath ALDE
(FF)
Ireland JUST 1 December 2024 [6]
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Commissioner groups

According to portfolios the commissioner groups will be as following:[8][9]

President

  • Commissioner for Equality
  • Commissioner for Implementation and Simplification
  • Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight
  • Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration

Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

  • Commissioner for Enlargement
  • Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management
  • Commissioner for the Mediterranean
  • Commissioner for International Partnerships

Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy (Commissioner for Digital and Frontier Technologies)

  • Commissioner for Defence and Space
  • Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration
  • Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law
  • Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation

Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy (Commissioner for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy)

  • Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation
  • Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security
  • Commissioner for Economy and Productivity
  • Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union

Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms (Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms)

  • Commissioner for Enlargement
  • Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans
  • Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism
  • Commissioner for Agriculture and Food

Executive Vice-President for People, Skills and Preparedness (Commissioner for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness)

  • Commissioner for Mediterranean
  • Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management
  • Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport
  • Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare

Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition (Commissioner for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition)

  • Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth
  • Commissioner for Environment, Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
  • Commissioner for Energy and Housing
  • Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare

Formation

Election of the President of the Commission

To be elected Commission President, a candidate must be proposed by the European Council with a reinforced qualified majority (at least 72% of the states representing at least 65% of the population), and receive a majority of the votes of the members of the European Parliament (at least 361 out of 720).[10][11][12]

On 17 June, an "informal meeting" of the European Council was held, where the heads of state and government discussed the next institutional cycle and their candidate for the Commission presidency.[13] On 25 June, negotiators from the EPP (Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Donald Tusk), PES (Pedro Sánchez and Olaf Scholz) and Renew Europe (Emmanuel Macron and Mark Rutte) reached a preliminary agreement on the nominations.[12][14]

On 27 June, during the European Council meeting, national leaders proposed Ursula von der Leyen (EPP) as candidate for President of the European Commission,[15] after being named the European People's Party nominee in March 2024.[16] Hungary's Viktor Orbán voted against von der Leyen and abstained on Kallas. Italy's Giorgia Meloni abstained from the vote on von der Leyen but voted against Costa and Kallas for their posts.[17][18][19]

More information Public voting indication, Member states of the European Union ...
Proposal by the European Council
Required majority: at least 72% of the states representing at least 65% of the population
Public voting indication[17] Member states of the European Union
In favour
25 / 27
Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Ireland Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden
Against
1 / 27
Hungary
Abstained
1 / 27
Italy
Close
Ursula von der Leyen during her statement for the candidacy of Commission President

In the following weeks, von der Leyen had bilateral meetings with EPP, S&D, Renew,[20] G/EFA,[21] and ECR[22] groups to gather support for her re-election.[23] On 18 July, she presented to the European Parliament her "Political Guidelines", followed by a debate with MEPs.[24][25] Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected president of the European Commission in a secret ballot, with 401 votes in favour, 284 against, and 22 cast blank or invalid votes.[26][27]

More information Required majority 360 out of 719 Y, Public voting indication (individual votes unknown, as the ballot was secret) ...
Election by the European Parliament
Required majority
360 out of 719 checkY
Public voting indication
(individual votes unknown, as the ballot was secret)
The Left S&D Greens/EFA Renew EPP ECR Patriots ESN NI
Position 46 136 53 77 188 78 84 25 32
Against ☒N[28] In favour checkY[29] In favour checkY[30] In favour checkY[31] In favour checkY[32] Free vote Gray X symbolNg[33] Against ☒N[34] Against ☒N[35]
In favour
401 / 719
81 or more 39 or more 18 or more 97 or more 5 or more
Against
284 / 719
25 or more 4 or more 11 or more 14 or more 10 or more Large majority
(self-declared)[33]
58 or more All 25 All 32
Blank or Void
22 / 719
2 or more

Belgium PS (2)[44]

1 or more

Czech Republic ODS (1)[60]

Non Voting
12 / 719
Total : 719[115] 46 136 53 77 188 78 84 25 32
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Selection of the Commissioners

The President-elect of the European Union invites the member states to nominate commissioners in accordance with the rules set out in the Treaty on the European Union and by the European Council. The President-elect decides on the organisation of their Commission, reviews the nominees, and presents a college of Commissioners, with each nominated Commissioner being responsible for a specific policy portfolio. The President-elect also appoints Vice Presidents among the Commissioners.[1][2][26] The President-elect's proposed College of Commissioners is reviewed by the European Parliament in committee hearings.[1][2][26]

Commissioner candidates

On 25 July 2024, President-elect Ursula von der Leyen sent the letters to member states asking them to officially nominate candidates for the post of European Commissioner before 30 August 2024.[116][117][118] As she did with her first commission, von der Leyen called for member states to each nominate two candidates for the European Commission, a woman and a man.[119] However, Bulgaria is the only country to have followed von der Leyen's request.[120] All the other leaders of EU member states have each nominated only one candidate, and most of them are men.[121][118] Romania originally put forward socialist MEP Victor Negrescu but later put forward MEP Roxana Mînzatu, switching a male nominee for a female nominee.[122]

Percentage of Commissioners nominee by gender[123][124]
Male
59.3% (16)
Female
40.7% (11)
Percentage of Commissioners nominee by European political party[123][124]
EPP
48.1% (13)
PES
18.5% (5)
Ind.
14.8% (5)
ALDE
11.1% (3)
ECR
3.7% (1)

On 17 September 2024, Ursula von der Leyen announced in a press conference the college of commissioners and their portfolios.[125][126] The share of women in the proposed commission is 40.7%, down from 44.4 percent in 2019.[127] The average age of the new Commission nominees is 52, dropping from 56 in 2019.[127] In terms of structure, there are six Executive Vice-Presidents, down from 7 (with 3 executive vice-presidents) in 2019. The proposed College includes five returning commissioners: three of them are for a second mandate (Šuica, Várhelyi, Hoekstra), while Dombrovskis would return for a third term, and Šefčovič for a fourth term. The portfolio repartition reflects the declared priorities, with a strong focus on competitiveness, industrial policy and defence.[124][128]

On 19 September 2024, the Council of the European Union adopted, by common accord with the President-elect of the Commission, the list of persons whom it proposes for appointment as members of the Commission to the European Parliament.[129]

More information Commissioner, Hearing ...
Commissioner nominees by member state
Commissioner[123][124] Hearing Ref.
Name Gender EU Party
(N. Party)
Member state Assigned Portfolio[126] Date[130] Committee[131] Decision
Magnus Brunner M EPP
(ÖVP)
Austria Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration 5 November 2024
LIBE
DEVE
Confirmed [132]
Hadja Lahbib F ALDE
(MR)
Belgium Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management
Commissioner for Equality[e]
6 November 2024
DEVE FEMM
LIBE ENVI
EMPL SANT
Confirmed [133][134]
Ekaterina Zaharieva F EPP
(GERB)
Bulgaria Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation 5 November 2024
ITRE
CULT
Confirmed
Dubravka Šuica F EPP
(HDZ)
Croatia Commissioner for Mediterranean 5 November 2024
AFET
EMPL LIBE DROI
Confirmed [135]
Costas Kadis M Ind. Cyprus Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans 6 November 2024
PECH
ENVI
Confirmed [136]
Jozef Síkela M Ind.[d]
(STAN)
Czech Republic Commissioner for International Partnerships 6 November 2024
DEVE
AFET FEMM
INTA LIBE
Confirmed [137][138]
Dan Jørgensen M PES
(S)
Denmark Commissioner for Energy and Housing 5 November 2024
ITRE EMPL
ENVI REGI
IMCO ECON
Confirmed [139]
Kaja Kallas F ALDE
(ER)
Estonia Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy 12 November 2024
AFET
DEVE INTA FEMM
DROI SEDE
Confirmed [140]
Henna Virkkunen F EPP
(Kok)
Finland Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy and Commissioner for Digital and Frontier Technologies 12 November 2024
ITRE IMCO
LIBE JURI
SEDE CULT
Confirmed [141][142]
Stéphane Séjourné M ALDE[a]
(RE)
France Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy and Commissioner for Industry, SMEs and the Single Market 12 November 2024
ITRE IMCO
ENVI ECON
INTA EMPL
BUDG JURI
Confirmed [143]
Ursula von der Leyen F EPP
(CDU)
Germany President Elected by the European Parliament on 18 July 2024 [144]
Apostolos Tzitzikostas M EPP
(ND)
Greece Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism 4 November 2024
TRAN
ENVI
Confirmed [145]
Olivér Várhelyi M Ind.[c] Hungary Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare 6 November 2024
ENVI AGRI
ITRE SANT
Confirmed [146]
Michael McGrath M ALDE
(FF)
Ireland Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law 4 November 2024
LIBE IMCO JURI
AFCO CULT BUDG
CONT FEMM
Confirmed [147]
Raffaele Fitto M ECR
(FdI)
Italy Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms and Commissioner for Cohesion Policy, Regional Development and Cities 12 November 2024
REGI
TRAN BUDG PECH
EMPL ECON
Confirmed [148]
Valdis Dombrovskis M EPP
(V)
Latvia Commissioner for Economy and Productivity
Commissioner for Implementation and Simplification[e]
7 November 2024
ECON JURI
BUDG AFCO EMPL
IMCO FISC
Confirmed [149][150]
Andrius Kubilius M EPP
(TS–LKD)
Lithuania Commissioner for Defence and Space 6 November 2024
AFET ITRE
TRAN SEDE
Confirmed [151]
Christophe Hansen M EPP
(CSV)
Luxembourg Commissioner for Agriculture and Food 4 November 2024
AGRI
PECH ENVI
Confirmed [152]
Glenn Micallef M PES
(PL)
Malta Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport 4 November 2024
CULT
EMPL LIBE JURI
Confirmed [153]
Wopke Hoekstra M EPP
(CDA)
Netherlands Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth 7 November 2024
ENVI ITRE ECON
TRAN EMPL FISC
Confirmed [154]
Piotr Serafin M EPP
(PO)
Poland Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration 7 November 2024
BUDG CONT
LIBE JURI
Confirmed [155]
Maria Luís Albuquerque F EPP
(PSD)
Portugal Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union 6 November 2024
ECON
IMCO LIBE
Confirmed [156]
Roxana Mînzatu F PES
(PSD)
Romania Executive Vice-President for People, Skills and Preparedness and Commissioner for Skills, Education and Culture, Quality Jobs and Social Rights 12 November 2024
EMPL CULT
FEMM LIBE
Confirmed [122]
Maroš Šefčovič M PES (susp.)
(Smer)
Slovakia Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security
Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency[e]
4 November 2024
INTA AFCO
AFET IMCO PETI
DEVE JURI
Confirmed [157]
Marta Kos F Ind.[b] Slovenia Commissioner for Enlargement 7 November 2024
AFET
LIBE AFCO DROI
Confirmed [158][159]
Teresa Ribera F PES
(PSOE)
Spain Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition and Commissioner for Competitiveness 12 November 2024
ENVI ECON ITRE
IMCO EMPL TRAN
REGI AGRI
Confirmed [160][161]
Jessika Roswall F EPP
(M)
Sweden Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy 5 November 2024
ENVI
IMCO ITRE AGRI
Confirmed [162]
Hearings:
  Responsible Committee
  Invited Committee
Close

Hearings

According to the Rule 129 of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament, the confirmation hearings are conducted by the appropriate committee or committees for each commissioner.[163] According to the Annex VII of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament, the parliament has to evaluate Commissioners-designate based on their general competence, European commitment and personal independence. It has to assess knowledge of their prospective portfolio and their communication skills.[164] Historically, the European Parliament has rejected at least one candidate during every mandate since 2004.[165]

On 3 October 2024, the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament agreed on the calendar for the hearings to be held from 4 to 12 November, and decided on the division of responsibilities among committees for the confirmation hearings.[166]

Election of the Commission

The College of Commissioners are subjected to the confirmation by a majority of the votes cast by the European Parliament. On 27 November, the new Commission was approved by Parliament, with 370 MEPs voting in favour, 282 against, and 36 abstentions. This corresponds to a 51 % majority of all members, the least supported European Commission by the Parliament since 1993, when it was given the right to vote on the college, and fewer than the 401 MEPs who voted for the election of Ursula von der Leyen as Commission President.[3][4]

More information Ballot, Votes ...
Strasbourg, 27 November 2024 – simple majority required[167]
Ballot Votes Percentage
1 In favour
370 / 719
53,8 %
Against
282 / 719
40,9 %
Abstained
36 / 719
5,2 %
Total votes 688 95,7 %
Close

After being approved by the Parliament, the Commission was formally appointed by the European Council, acting by a qualified majority, on 28 November.[1][2][166] It subsequently assumed office on 1 December 2024.[168]

Policy

The policy priorities of the second von der Leyen Commission were initially outlined in the 30-page "Political Guidelines for the Next European Commission 2024–2029" document that Ursula von der Leyen published in July 2024.[169] The seven priority areas are:

  • A new plan for Europe's sustainable prosperity and competitiveness
  • A new era for European defence and security
  • Supporting people, strengthening our societies and our social model
  • Sustaining our quality of life: Food security, water and nature
  • Protecting our democracy, upholding our values
  • A global Europe: Leveraging our power and partnerships
  • Delivering together and preparing our Union for the future

As an important cross-cutting priority area, the Commission also put increasing emphasis on streamlining regulations and cutting red tape, even if similar attempts to reduce "administrative burdens" had regularly featured in the EU agenda in the 1990s onwards.[170] However, this time these efforts were further intensified and turned into omnibus directives that targeted recently initiated EU rules in the field of corporate sustainability and responsibility rules.[171]

European Green Deal

The European Green Deal, approved in 2020, is a set of policy initiatives by the von der Leyen Commission with the overarching aim of making the European Union climate neutral in 2050.[172] In November 2024, Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera, expressed support for the European Green Deal and the green transition.[173] She said in an interview with El País: "Ursula von der Leyen has given me a vice presidency: It's a signal that [the green agenda] remains a priority. Environmental transition is one of the great engines of the approaching economic and industrial transformation."[174] In December 2024, Ribera warned that the Commission would not postpone the ban on the sale of combustion engine cars in the EU after 2035.[175]

On 26 February 2025, the Commission announced a collection of measures backed by 100 billion euros (US$104.94 billion) to support EU-made clean manufacturing, called the Clean Industrial Deal.[176][177] Ribera said that "By 2030, the EU's renewable targets alone will generate over 3.5 million new jobs in the renewable sector. But this transition means change — some sectors will need to face challenging circumstances."[178]

On 2 July 2025, the Commission proposed a new climate target for 2040, aiming for a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels.[179]

According to a study by scientists at Utrecht University published on 24 August 2025, the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) could start to collapse from the 2060s.[180] The collapse of the AMOC would be a severe climate catastrophe, resulting in a cooling of the Northern Hemisphere.[181] European Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra described the findings as a "wake-up call".[182] In August 2025, Teresa Ribera suggested that AMOC should be "added to the list of national security acronyms in Europe" given the serious consequences of AMOC's collapse.[183]

Foreign issues

Ursula von der Leyen, Kaja Kallas and US Vice President JD Vance at the AI Action Summit in Paris on 11 February 2025

In November 2024, the candidate for the post of High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, stated that the People's Republic of China must pay a "higher cost" for its support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[184] In February 2025, Kallas again condemned China,[185] saying that "Without China's support, Russia would not be able to continue its military aggression with the same force. China is the largest provider of dual-use goods and sensitive items that sustain Russia's military-industrial base and that are found on the battlefield in Ukraine."[186]

On 17 January 2025, the European Commission concluded the negotations on the modernisation of the EU-Mexico Global Agreement. The modernized agreement is meant to reduce agri-food tariffs, simplify standards and establish climate and labour rights cooperation by the parties. On 3 September 2025, the Commission sent its proposal for the decision on ratification of the Agreement to the Council.[187]

On 20 February 2025, Kallas expressed doubts about US President Donald Trump's attempts to negotiate a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine war, warning that "if we are giving everything on the plate to the aggressor, it sends a signal to all the aggressors in the world that you can do this."[188]

European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus, Syria, 17 January 2025

On 24 February 2025, Kallas met with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar in Brussels for the first formal talks between Israel and the EU since the Gaza war.[189] The European Commission rejected a request from Ireland and Spain to review the EU–Israel Association Agreement.[190]

In January 2025, European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the Sunni Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham.[191] On 8 March 2025, the EEAS condemned attacks "by pro-Assad elements" on Syrian government forces during clashes in western Syria.[192] On 17 March 2025, the European Union pledged €2.5 billion in aid for the Syrian transitional government.[193]

Ursula von der Leyen with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Brussels, 4 July 2025

In a meeting with Kaja Kallas in July 2025, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China does not want Russia to lose the war in Ukraine.[194] According to European diplomats, China is concerned that the United States would focus more on Asia once the conflict in Europe ends.[195][196]

On 15 July 2025, Kallas and the foreign ministers of the EU member states decided not to take any action against Israel over alleged Israeli war crimes in the Gaza war and settler violence in the West Bank.[197] The proposed sanctions against Israel included suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, suspending visa-free travel, or blocking imports from Israeli settlements.[198] Israel considered the EU's decision not to impose sanctions on Israel as a diplomatic victory.[199] Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian criticised the decision, saying, "It's shocking and disappointing, because everything is crystal clear. ... The whole world has been seeing what is happening in Gaza. The killing, the atrocities, the war crimes."[198]

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto with Ursula von der Leyen at the Berlaymont building, 13 July 2025

In September 2025, US President Trump asked the EU to impose 100 % tariffs on China and India to punish them for buying Russian oil and de facto financing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.[200][201] Kaja Kallas expressed support for enhancing trade and security ties between the EU and India, while criticising India's close cooperation with Russia, including its participation in the Zapad 2025 military exercise.[202]

On 28 October 2025, Kaja Kallas and Hadja Lahbib released a joint statement calling the RSF's seizure of El Fasher a "dangerous turning point" in the Sudanese Civil War and condemning the "brutality" of targeting civilians based on ethnicity. They urged immediate de-escalation, adherence to international humanitarian law, and safe, unhindered humanitarian access.[203]

On 9 January 2026, during a historic visit to Damascus, von der Leyen met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and announced a substantial financial assistance package of approximately €620 million, to be disbursed in 2026 and 2027.[204] This visit marked a significant shift in EU-Syria relations following the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024. During her stay, von der Leyen described the ongoing clashes in Aleppo between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led SDF as "worrying".[205]

In January 2026, von der Leyen strongly condemned the violent crackdown on widespread anti-government protests in Iran. Responding to reports of escalating casualties, she characterised the situation as "horrifying."[206]

On 1 March 2026, von der Leyen called for a "credible transition" in Iran following the start of a joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.[207]

In March 2026, von der Leyen declared that the traditional "rules-based" international order is finished, urging the EU to adopt a more interest-driven, realistic foreign policy in response to global instability.[208] Addressing the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, she argued 'no tears should be shed' for the Iranian regime, despite noting security risks to Europe.[209] This rhetoric and her dismissal of the rules-based framework prompted criticism from several EU capitals and threatened a no-confidence motion from S&D lawmakers.[210]

Defense industry

On 4 March 2025, Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU's €800 billion (US$840 billion) defence investment plan "ReArm Europe".[211][212] She suggested that the European Union might need to ease its fiscal rules regarding national debt to facilitate increased defence spending by member states.[213]

Trade

Von der Leyen with US President Donald Trump in Scotland, 27 July 2025

In May 2025, Qatar threatened to halt LNG deliveries to Europe if the European Union continued with proposed regulations linking trade to human rights and environmental standards.[214][215]

On 27 July 2025, the United States and the European Union concluded a trade agreement, providing for 15% tariffs on European exports.[216] The deal was announced by US President Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen, at Turnberry, Scotland.[217] European states committed to US$750 billion in energy purchases and US$600 billion in additional investments in the United States.[218]

In July 2025, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Ursula von der Leyen reached a political agreement on the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Following a decade of negotiations, the substantive conclusion of the deal was signed in September 2025.[219]

Ursula von der Leyen and the leaders of the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) formally signed the European Union–Mercosur free trade agreement on 17 January 2026, in Asunción, Paraguay. This milestone marked the culmination of over 25 years of negotiations aimed at establishing one of the world's largest free trade zones.[220]

In October 2025, von der Leyen announced a strategy to reduce the European Union’s reliance on China for critical raw materials, including rare earth elements. This initiative was in response to China's export restrictions on these essential commodities, which pose potential risks to the EU's industrial manufacturing and technological innovation.[221]

António Costa, Narendra Modi, and Ursula von der Leyen during the formal ceremony of the treaty's signing, 27 January 2026

In January 2026, India and the European Union concluded a landmark India–European Union Free Trade Agreement,[222] aimed at eliminating tariffs on over 90% of goods to strengthen economic and strategic ties.[5] Ursula von der Leyen called it the "mother of all deals".[5] On 27 January 2026, von der Leyen signed a mobility and migration agreement with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.[223] This pact, signed concurrently with a free trade agreement (FTA), significantly facilitates legal pathways to the EU for Indian students and skilled workers.[224]

Immigration

In February 2025, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told Ursula von der Leyen that Poland would not implement the EU Migration Pact, i.e. the mandatory relocation of 30,000 asylum seekers or the payment of €600 million, and recalled that Poland had accepted a large number of Ukrainian refugees.[225]

In March 2025, Poland suspended the right to apply for asylum at the Belarus-Poland border, a decision supported by the European Commission.[226]

Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-34

On 16 July 2025, the Commission proposed a draft of the Multiannual Financial Framework for the years 2028-34, reorganising its structure into four pillars (National and regional partnership plans, Competitiveness Fund, Global Europe Fund and European public administration) and increasing the overall spending as a percent of gross national income of the member states combined from 1.05% to 1.26%. The Commission also included new sources of EU's own revenues in the draft budget.[227]

2025 votes of confidence

In July 2025, von der Leyen survived a vote of no confidence, with 360 MEPs against and 175 in favour. EPP, S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA and parts of ECR supported her, while PfE, ESN, The Left and parts of ECR opposed her.[228]

In October, von der Leyen survived another two votes of no confidence, with 378 MEPs against and 179 in favour on the first one, and with 383 MEPs against and 133 in favour on the second one.[229]

Notes

  1. Renaissance is in the Renew Europe Group but does not belong to any European party.
  2. Affiliated to GS, which is affiliated to the Renew Europe Group.
  3. Affiliated to Fidesz, which is affiliated to the PfE Group.[124]
  4. Mayors and Independents is in the EPP Group but does not belong to any European party.
  5. Hadja Lahbib (Belgium), Valdis Dombrovskis (Latvia) and Maroš Šefčovič (Slovakia) have each been assigned two portfolios. For the second portfolio (Equality, Implementation and Simplification, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight) each of them will be reporting directly to the president of the Commission.

References

Further reading

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