ECR undecided ahead of von der Leyen's reelection vote

The EU Commission's president must gain the backing of the European Conservatives and Reformists group to secure another term.

Transcript

00:00The debate over the vote that is taking place on Thursday to confirm

00:04Von der Leyen's candidacy as president of the European Commission

00:07is particularly heated across European capitals. This is especially true

00:11here in Rome, where Italy's prime minister is also the president

00:14of the ECR political group, one of the largest groups that has remained

00:18undecided over its support to Von der Leyen.

00:21As we know, at the end of June, Giorgia Meloni abstained from the vote

00:25to confirm Von der Leyen's re-election and more recently she stated

00:29that regardless of her dual roles, she wants Italy's position to be

00:33recognized. In other words, she aims to ensure that Italy gets

00:38a top post in the EU Commission. Every voter will count on Thursday

00:43when Von der Leyen will attempt to convince MEPs to give her a second

00:48mandate, but given it's a secret ballot, the result is not guaranteed.

00:53From the new stability pact to migration policies,

00:57analysts say there's so much at stake for Italy that the country must

01:01preserve the good relations it has maintained with the EU Commission.

01:28During these challenging times, both Italy and other EU countries face an

01:41increased responsibility.

01:57Much will depend on the meeting Ursula von der Leyen held with the ECR

02:21group on Tuesday ahead of this week's vote.

02:24Giorgia Orlandi, for Euronews, in Rome.