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The von der Leyen Commission officially takes office this Sunday, December 1, 2019. The former defense minister of Angela Merkel, who is not very popular - neither in Germany nor in her political family, the CDU - has long been perceived above all as the choice of France. A proximity to qualify.
" This is a Macronist choice ," that was what was said at the CDU when Ursula von der Leyen appeared before the MEPs . And that was not a compliment. Emmanuel Macron has claimed the fact of being the one who proposed his name but Ursula von der Leyen is above all a very close to Angela Merkel. The Chancellor has long hoped that she would be his political heiress.
DANKE! # cdupt19 pic.twitter.com/CB4Jtwqktr
Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) November 22, 2019On climate, immigration, the French president will find anyway an ally in Brussels. On the global vision too; the Elysee appreciates its ambition of a European "geopolitical" Commission.
On defense issues, it's already more mixed. When she was Defense Minister Ursula Von Der Leyen weighed in favor of Franco-German tank and fighter aircraft projects. But the Europe of the defense remains for her a subject a little distant and especially in front of the severe critics of Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyen defended the Alliance.
Finally, both differ on the enlargement of the EU to the Western Balkans . The French is against. The German sees it as a necessity to stabilize the region, to try to avoid the influences of China, Russia and Turkey.
I firmly believe that Albania and North Macedonia have made enormous efforts to approach European standards.
It is very important to me that they get a positive signal from our side. #EUCO pic.twitter.com/DGHdeGsKsI
► Also to listen : Ursula Von der Leyen, head of the European Commission (Portrait)