Von der Leyen does not rule out proposing further measures to rebuild the community blog

BrusselsUrsula von der Leyen had to deal with a pandemic and the start of the war in Ukraine during her first term, which led to a price and energy crisis. And, at the beginning of her second term at the head of the European Commission, she has already had to deal with the return of Donald Trump to the White House, which threatens a trade war and a cutting Euro-Atlantic relations. "The world is changing at the speed of light and geopolitical shifts are shaking alliances," the German conservative said at the press conference to assess the first 100 days of her second term.

In this context, the German conservative has been forced to push forward in just a few months a series of initiatives that aim to mark the path of a completely transformed European Union in many aspects. The most notable, and those that represent a major paradigm shift, have to do with the field of security. This Sunday, Von der Leyen announced that she will call the first meeting of European commissioners to speak strictly about defence issues and, among other things, she has opened up to increasing the ambitions of the rearmament plan that European leaders have agreed upon.

Although she is not yet opening the door to the creation of eurobonds like those of the Covid for defense, Von der Leyen is willing to add initiatives to her strategy to gain military autonomy from the United States. In fact, at the Brussels summit last Thursday, EU heads of state and government have already urged the European Commission "to make additional proposals to find new sources of funding for defence". That is, measures that add to the relaxation of fiscal rules and the EU's guarantee of defence loans to member states, with which plans to mobilize some 800 billion euros"Nothing is off the table, I am open to whatever is necessary," the President of the European Commission responded to European leaders.

On the other hand, Von der Leyen has announced that this week she will present the plan to speed up and increase the return of immigrants who live in EU territory illegally. In this sense, she assured that "entry will be prohibited" to all those who have already "had to be expelled by force", and that it will be "stricter where there are security risks", such as the border of Poland with Belarus, whom the EU accuses of politically instrumentalizing the entry of immigrants.

On the other hand, the German conservative does not mention the creation of centres in third countries to deport migrants, as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has pushed for in Albania. However, it should be remembered that Von der Leyen had already shown herself willing to propose an initiative similar to that of Italy, but for the EU as a whole, which raises legal doubts. "We will be assertive, but we also guarantee that we will act with full respect for international law and fundamental rights," the President of the European Commission has promised.

A more competitive EU

The other major challenge facing the European Commission The European Union is facing aggressive trade competition from China and the United States, and the decline of European industry and the weak economic growth of the Eurozone. In line with what Mario Draghi's report stated, Von der Leyen recalled the multi-billion euro initiatives of the European Union to boost artificial intelligence factories, such as the one in Barcelona, ​​​​and to increase the competitiveness of the continent.

She has thus highlighted the investments and strategies to boost the clean industry of the European Union, such as the manufacture of electric batteries and the plans to guarantee access to energy at a good price in the long term. She has also underlined the importance of the initiative to reduce the administrative bureaucracy that European companies must face, especially small and medium-sized ones. In total, Brussels estimates that it will mean a saving of around 6,000 million annually for companies.

On the other hand, the head of the community executive has also stressed the importance of forging new alliances, especially in light of Trump's withdrawal and the worsening of relations between the EU and China. Thus, she welcomed the trade agreement with Mercosur and, among others, the first contacts with India to reach new pacts, especially in the area of ​​technology. "This [European] Commission is ready to face all of today's crises; we need speed and determination," concluded Von der Leyen.