EPP Group welcomes election of von der Leyen

16.07.2019 19:35

EPP Group welcomes election of von der Leyen

“I warmly welcome the election by the European Parliament of Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission”, Chairman of the EPP Group Manfred Weber said after the positive result was announced in the European Parliament. “Ursula von der Leyen has shown us in the past weeks that she is a committed European with an ambitious agenda for the future. That is what we need in Europe now.”

During the debate with von der Leyen, Weber insisted on the need to show citizens that Europe can change and do better. “We are committed to our electoral promises, and to the 40 million voters that gave us their trust. They expect us to deliver a fair and innovative Europe, a safe and secure Europe and an open Europe that is ready to trade with the world. We are convinced we can deliver these promises with Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission.”

For the EPP Group, the priority for the next five years must be to strengthen democracy in Europe. “More than 200 million people voted in the European elections, and they expected their vote to count. That is why the pro-European forces need to stand united. We will fight with determination for a Europe of the peoples, with better scrutiny of the implementation of European laws, real powers of inquiry and initiative and a strengthened system of the election of the lead candidate.”

Note to editors

The EPP Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 182 Members from 26 Member States