Von der Leyen stakes re-election on defence, housing and a revamped budget

Seeking re-election, Ursula von der Leyen has set out her manifesto for the next five years before the European Parliament.

Transcript

00:00Ursula von der Leyen delivered her candidate speech to be re-elected as President of the

00:05European Commission in front of the European Parliament.

00:09Pleasing right and left with her speech, the German politician from center-right EVP defended

00:14a strong Europe and stressed that there is no room for demagogues or polarization.

00:20She focused on the defense of Europe and managed to create a defense commissioner for this

00:24purpose.

00:27Von der Leyen also criticized Viktor Orban for playing to Putin's hand by visiting Moscow.

00:36Russia is banking on Europe and the West going soft.

00:41And some in Europe are playing along.

00:46Two weeks ago, a European Union Prime Minister went to Moscow.

00:53This so-called peace mission was nothing but an appeasement mission.

01:00This was a plain appeasement mission.

01:13This is not the only new commissioner she wants to put in place.

01:16Competitiveness and SMEs, short for small and medium enterprises, are also high on her

01:21agenda.

01:23If the past term was the so-called Green Commission, the next one von der Leyen wants

01:27it to be known as the Industry Commission.

01:30Less bureaucracy, less permits and more trust for SMEs.

01:34But she also had some words for one of Europe's biggest issues, the housing crisis.

01:39To fight against increased prices and inaccessibility to housing, she will appoint a housing commissioner.

01:45Typically, housing is not seen as a European issue.

01:50Some might say we should not get involved.

01:53But I want this commission to support people where it matters most.

01:59And if it matters to Europeans, then it matters to Europe.

02:08Another pressing topic was migration.

02:10After the agreement on the new asylum pact that forced solidarity and put a price of

02:1420,000 euros to each migrant, von der Leyen now wants to implement it.

02:19For the implementation of the pillar, we need a common approach on returns to make

02:25them more effective and dignified.

02:28And we need to develop our comprehensive partnerships, in particular across our southern neighbourhood.

02:35The Mediterranean region should get undivided attention.

02:41And this is why I will appoint a commissioner for the region.

02:46Von der Leyen had also some concessions for the Greens and promised to stick to the targets

02:51of the Green Deal.

02:52But with a focus on the industry, she assured she will be putting forward a clean industrial

02:57deal in the first three months.