President Klaus Iohannis congratulated Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday for her election as President of the European Commission.
“I congratulate Ms. Ursula von der Leyen for her election as President of the European Commission. I look forward to a close cooperation for a stronger Europe,” Iohannis wrote on Twitter.
The European Parliament validated on Tuesday with 383 votes in favor, 22 abstentions and 327 votes against, the nomination of Ursula von der Leyen for the European Commission’s presidency.
She is set to take office on November 1, 2019, and will succeed Luxembourgish Jean-Claude Juncker, one-term head of the European Union’s executive.
Ursula von der Leyen becomes the first woman to lead the European Commission.
Liberal head Orban on Ursula von der Leyen’s confirmation as EC President: It’s a victory for us
Liberal Chairman Ludovic Orban said on Tuesday that for the National Liberal Party (PNL), the election of Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission President is a victory, as the Liberals can thus best support Romania’s interests.
“For us, it’s a victory. (…) [Von der Leyen’s] approval avails PNL’s partnership relation with the President of the European Commission, enabling it to support the interests of Romania, influence decisions at European level to Romania’s benefit. For instance, by increasing subsidies per hectare for Romanian farmers, maintaining cohesion funds allocations in the EU budget, which is again important, because given its lower development level, Romania is a recipient of cohesion funds, getting easier access to direct EU funding; we are on the last spot as regards research and innovation, so if we succeed in obtaining financing here, we succeed in developing this segment,” Orban said at the public broadcaster TVR 1.
