As a preliminary step to the investiture vote, Ursula von der Leyen has presented this Thursday to the Government its government program at the head of the Commission for the legislature 2024-2019. A detailed but very vague plan whose priorities are to build a genuine European Defence Unionstrengthen border control tripling Frontex staff to 30,000 peopleor improve the competitiveness of the European economy by unlocking private financing and cutting red tape.
However, the great novelty of von der Leyen’s programme is the emphasis it places on the housing problem, despite the fact that the European Union has very few powers in this area. The German has announced that she will appoint a commissioner with responsibilities for housing and will present the first European Plan for Affordable Housing of history.
“Europe faces a housing crisis“which affects people of all ages and families of all sizes. Prices and rents are skyrocketing and people are struggling to find affordable homes,” the president stressed.
[Von der Leyen se garantiza la reelección en la Eurocámara al sumar el apoyo de los Verdes]
The Affordable Housing Plan “will address structural factors, develop a strategy for building housing“It will offer technical assistance to cities and Member States and will focus on investment,” the President explains in her government programme.
In addition, the Commission will work with Nadia Calviño’s European Investment Bank (EIB) to create a “pan-European investment platform for affordable and sustainable housing in order to attract more public and private investment.”
As a first immediate step, the next Community Executive will propose inject liquidity into the market by authorising Member States to double the amount of EU funds already allocated to them that they can spend on affordable housing. Finally, Brussels will review its rules on state aid to facilitate housing support measures, in particular for social and energy-efficient housing.
“Housing is not typically seen as a European issue. Some may say that we should not get involved. But I want this Commission to support people in what matters most. And if it is important for Europeans, it is important for Europe,” the German said.
Migratory pressure in the Canary Islands
On migration issues, Von der Leyen has mentioned the Canary Islands The European Union is one of the regions that have suffered or are suffering from episodes of pressure on the border, along with Lampedusa, Cyprus, Poland, Finland and the Baltic States. The President believes it is essential to improve the European response to these crises and therefore proposes tripling the number of European Border and Coast Guard (Frontex) personnel to 30,000.
The German company is committed to continuing the strategy of Agreements with countries of origin and transit of migrants and will propose new legislation to speed up and simplify repatriations. In this regard, Von der Leyen plans to present a new Pact for the Mediterranean, with a specific commissioner in charge of implementing it.
There will also be a New Defense Commissionerwhose work will report to the new High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. “For the first time in decades, our freedom is in danger. It is our responsibility to do everything necessary to protect European citizens. Protecting Europe is Europe’s duty. That is why I believe that it is time to build a genuine European Defence Union,” the candidate argued.
Von der Leyen admits that strengthening the common defence policy requires a sharp increase in investmentboth public and private, as well as greater cooperation between member states when it comes to spending. But she has avoided talking about figures and has not specified whether she will propose new common instruments such as the issue of defence eurobonds that Kallas herself has proposed.
The flagship project of the legislature will be to launch “a European air defence system, “Not only to protect our airspace, but also as a strong symbol of European defence unity,” he said.
European Green Deal
Von der Leyen has pledged in the European Parliament to to pursue the objectives of the European Green Dealthe package of rules to ensure that the EU achieves climate neutrality by 2050. The European Green Deal is one of the bêtes noires of the far-right forces and has also been criticised by some sectors of the European People’s Party (EPP).
However, the president announces a limited review of the rule banning combustion engines from 2035, in order to introduce an exception for vehicles that run solely on synthetic fuels (e-fuels), which are climate-neutral. This is what the German government had requested in exchange for giving the green light to this regulation.
In her first 100 days in office, Von der Leyen will present a new Clean Industry Pact, which aims to support businesses and workers in the climate transition. One of her priorities will be continue to cut energy billsalthough the president has not specified how she intends to do so.
In terms of investment, the candidate is betting on completing the Capital Markets Union, which according to her calculations would unlock 470 billion euros a year. Once the Next Generation funds run out in 2026, Von der Leyen plans to propose a new European Competitiveness Fundbut in this case it has not detailed its endowment either.
However, the president has announced that the next multiannual EU budget will be reformed in the image and likeness of the Next Generation funds, so that European aid will be conditional on national reform and investment plans.
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