370 MPs voted for the commission, 282 against and 36 abstained. Details of how each MP voted will soon be published on Parliament’s dedicated website and in the minutes of the plenary session.
The confirmation of the college required a majority of votes cast, in accordance with Rule 129(7) of the European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure.
This will be Ursula von der Leyen’s second term as President of the Commission. Its first commission was confirmed by Parliament in November 2019.
Debate with MPs before the vote
Before the vote, Ursula von der Leyen presented her team and program. In doing so, she confirmed the changes to the portfolios of individual members that MPs had requested as part of the Commission’s confirmation. “We are ready to get started immediately,” she said, stressing that her commission will always work for freedom, sovereignty, security and prosperity. The full speech is available on the Commission’s website.
Von der Leyen announced that the new Commission’s first initiative would be a “compass for competitiveness” to close Europe’s innovation gap with the US and China, strengthen security and independence and advance decarbonization. Regarding the European Green Deal, she said: “We must and will stay on track with the goals of the European Green Deal.” She committed to presenting a “Clean Industrial Deal” and starting a strategic dialogue about the future of the automotive industry in Europe to work towards a competitive circular economy and to create a European Savings and Investment Union.
Given the current wars in Ukraine, the Middle East and parts of Africa, Ms von der Leyen stressed that “Europe must play a stronger role in all these areas,” adding that Europe is “needed more than ever.” She underlined the need to increase European defense spending: “I assure you that Europe’s security will always be the top priority for this Commission.”
In the ensuing debate, some MEPs called on the new Commission to quickly address Europe’s challenges. They called for strengthening Europe’s competitiveness in the face of increasing global competition, implementing the European Green Deal, securing energy independence and building a defense union in response to the war in Ukraine. Others expressed their opposition to the new college of commissioners. Recordings and excerpts of the debate are available in the EP Multimedia Center.
press conference
After the voting results were announced, Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held a press conference. The press conference is also available on EbS+.
Next Steps
Following its official appointment by the European Council by a qualified majority, the new European Commission is expected to start work on December 1, 2024.
background
The proposed College of Commissioners was examined in public hearings by the European Parliament between 4 and 12 November. Candidates were required to undergo hearings in the relevant committees to assess their suitability and ability to carry out the duties associated with their business areas.
The Conference of Presidents of Parliament declared the hearings closed on November 27 and published the assessment letters of all Commissioners-designate. For more information on the Commission 2024 investiture process, see the Parliamentary Research Service briefing.
Results of previous votes on the Commission
- 2019 Ursula von der Leyen: 461 yes votes, 157 no votes, 89 abstentions (751 seats in parliament)
- 2014 Jean-Claude Juncker: 423 – 209 – 67 (751 seats in parliament)
- 2010 José Manuel Barroso: 488 – 137 – 72 (736 seats in parliament)
- 2004 José Manuel Barroso: 478 – 84 – 98 (732 seats in parliament)
- 1999 Romano Prodi: 510 – 51 – 28 (626 seats in parliament)
- 1995 Jacques Santer: 417 – 104 – 59 (567 seats in parliament)
