The European Parliament Approves Ursula von der Leyen’s Commission – Virkkunen Named Vice-President
The European Parliament has approved Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as President of the European Commission during its session in Strasbourg. The Commission, under her leadership, will begin its term on December 1, 2024, consisting of 26 commissioners.
Henna Virkkunen, a member of the National Coalition Party (Kokoomus), will serve as Vice-President of the Commission, overseeing technological sovereignty, security, and democracy.
Harri Airaksinen, Director of the Tampere Region EU Office, expressed his satisfaction with Virkkunen’s appointment to such a key role.
“Commission members do not advocate for their own country’s interests, which we must always keep in mind.”
“Nevertheless, it is fantastic that a highly knowledgeable Finnish commissioner will be responsible for issues that are important to us, such as the development of semiconductor and artificial intelligence technologies and their application in critical sectors,” Airaksinen added.
Von der Leyen, representing the center-right European People’s Party (EPP), secured sufficient support from the Parliament despite tensions between political groups casting a shadow over the process. The Commission received backing particularly from the EPP, Socialists, and the Renew Europe group. Hearings and political disputes in Parliament posed challenges to meeting the timeline, but the decision to approve the composition ensures the Commission can commence its work as planned.
Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of gender equality in forming the new Commission.
For the first time since 1999, no commissioner candidates were rejected. The proposal was approved by Parliament with 370 votes in favor and 282 against.
