From the Leyen: EU in change - auto industry and military in focus!

From the Leyen: EU in change - auto industry and military in focus!

Vienna, Austria - Ursula von der Leyen launched her second term as President of the European Commission with a change in her priorities. Instead of the climate crisis, which was in the foreground at the first time in 2019, the defense of the auto industry in Europe has top priority. This was announced as a strategic dialogue to support the industry in an increasingly tense economic situation. In addition, Andrius Kubilius, the former Prime Minister of Lithuania, will take the new post of defense commissioner. This is intended to strengthen the military independence of Europe and facilitate the investments in European armaments projects, such as vienna.at reported.

In the past five years, the EU's policy has been shaped by numerous crises. From the Leyen used the extraordinary circumstances to consolidate their power and that of the Commission. During its first term, the Commission played an almost omnipotent role by claiming special powers that made it possible for it to quickly enact laws to stabilize the EU during pandemic and economic turbulence. This led to reviews that democratic controls and equilibria were avoided, since the EU Parliament often remained outside. The use of Article 122 of the Lisbon Treaty, which allows the Commission exceptional measures to the Commission, is now in focus, such as Theparliamentmagazine.eu reported.

with the parliament, which has lost influence due to a stronger legal orientation and internal conflicts, the pressure on the commission increases to provide clear results and an effective implementation of their laws. In view of the challenges, such as slow economic growth in many Member States, the Leyen's second term could become more complex and challenging than the first. Observers warn that she could possibly regret to have run again if the dynamics of power are shifting within the EU and it is confronted with a less successful term than before.