Ursula von der Leyen is often hailed as the most transformational president of the European Commission since Jacques Delors. But could her legacy backfire as she seeks re-election?
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00:00 [Applause]
00:03 Ursula von der Leyen was approved by the European Parliament on the 16th of July 2019
00:09 to be President of the European Commission.
00:11 Soon she became one of the most influential leaders in Europe,
00:15 but her mandate was heavily marked by different crises
00:18 and lately overshadowed by criticism related to Europe's green transition.
00:23 In March 2020, Europe faced lockdowns and panic due to the coronavirus.
00:28 The Commission eventually opted for a joint vaccines procurement
00:31 and set up a monetary fund to boost the economy.
00:34 Both initiatives were welcomed across Europe.
00:38 The recovery fund, well, the basis that we take loans together
00:42 and we stand in solidarity with each other, that was also progress.
00:46 Unfortunately, the dissemination of the money was not enough bound to the Green Deal measurements
00:54 and also the controlling mechanisms on how effectively this money is spent.
00:59 Shortly after Vladimir Putin launched his war in Ukraine in 2022,
01:04 von der Leyen travelled to Kiev and Bucha to show Europe's support.
01:09 Here in Bucha we saw our humanity being shattered.
01:15 In the following months, the EU sanctioned Russia, cut energy ties with it,
01:20 granted financial aid and weapons to Kiev and eventually opened the way towards EU membership of Ukraine.
01:28 They belong to us, they are one of us and we want them in.
01:34 These were all firsts under the leadership of von der Leyen.
01:39 She is combining really a very good combination of personal, emotional and psychological, you know,
01:47 appeal both to Ukrainians and to Europeans and also very clear practical vision of what is needed to be done for Ukraine.
01:56 Now all the statements about solidarity, about our support to Ukraine need to be, you know,
02:01 supported by clear, you know, steps, clear measures and that is what Ursula von der Leyen, really, she is able to achieve.
02:08 Critics say while von der Leyen was clearly committed to the Green Deal in the first years of her mandate,
02:15 her enthusiasm has faded away due to lobbying from big businesses.
02:19 While her party, the EPP, tried to hijack the nature restoration law,
02:24 the Commission watered down the car emissions phase-out and made various concessions to protesting farmers.
02:30 She has been giving in to this pressure substantially, which was quite disappointing,
02:35 not just for me as a member of the parliament but for big parts of society.
02:40 If von der Leyen is elected again, she is likely to concentrate on EU defence policy
02:47 as well as reforming the bloc to be able to accept new members.
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