- European Parliament, two Italians to chair the Commissions
- EU appointments, there is an agreement: Ursula Von der Leyen president of the Commission
- Strasbourg, David Sassoli elected president of the European Parliament
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10 July 2019 "People have fears, dreams and aspirations, and what Europe can give is answers: jobs, prospects, stability and security. And I am sure that Europe can do it: in every country, work he has to give what to live on. I will fight for a minimum wage in every country. "Ursula von der Leyen, candidate for president of the European Commission, said this at the end of the conference of presidents in Brussels, alongside the president of the European Parliament, David Sassoli.
"Brexit, more time in London"
"I am part of those who think it was right to extend the UK's exit from the Union beyond March 29 and therefore you can understand what my position is. If Britain needed more time, I am of the idea that we should give her more time, "said candidate von der Leyen at the end of the meeting with the Greens group in the European Parliament. And then: "Equal salary for equal work" is a principle defended by the candidate. Von der Leyen in particular stressed the need for "greater transparency in wages within companies", adding that "there is a lot to do in the social pillar" and that these were issues that she was very busy when she was minister of the Family in Germany.
Sassoli: constructive meeting
"It was a very useful, constructive, cordial meeting. Very useful for Parliament to listen to Mrs von der Leyen to learn more about her point of view, her opinions, her reflections on the work to be done in the next five years. A work for which cooperation with Parliament will be unavoidable. I hope the meeting was also useful for you, to have a 360-degree photograph of the priorities and concerns of each political group. "
So the President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, at the end of his meeting with the candidate for President of the European Commission.
"This meeting is an additional element of indispensable dialogue between the candidate and the institution that will have to make the final decision. In this sense, I would like to thank von der Leyen for his willingness to meet all the political groups and MEPs who wanted to meet her. bilaterally. It is not the time nor my role to draw conclusions on this dialogue, but I think I can say that, as always, there is work to be done, "concluded Sassoli.
Tomorrow conference presidents, three options for voting von der Leyen
The doubts remain of the political groups of the European Parliament on von der Leyen's candidacy. The conference of presidents will meet tomorrow morning at 10 am to draw up the agenda for the plenary session to be held in Strasbourg next week. The group presidents will have to decide in particular when the vote on the candidate president of the European Commission will take place. The debate should take place on Tuesday morning; the vote for the election of the President of the Commission should theoretically take place at the end of the debate, but it is not excluded that we decide to move the vote to Wednesday 17 July, if not actually to the September plenary, we learn from EU sources.
As early as 2009, the vote on the re-election of José Manuel Barroso as President of the Commission had been postponed from July to September. To be elected President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen must obtain at least 376 votes, half plus one of the MEPs.