Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, is set to focus on converting the European Union into a defense union during her second term.
In her political agenda, von der Leyen outlined that the primary goal over the next five years will be to establish a robust European defense union.
While EU member states will continue to oversee their own military forces and deployment decisions, the EU aims to enhance support and coordination efforts to bolster the military industrial base, innovation, and the single market.
Von der Leyen has requested the European Parliament to re-elect her for a second term to build a strong Europe capable of addressing any challenges. She also proposed the creation of a European Defense Fund.
Additionally, she plans to make the EU the most advanced tourist destination globally through a fully operational European digital border management system.
Von der Leyen highlighted the necessity of enhancing border security to prevent illegal crossings and shield the EU from evolving hybrid and other security threats.
The informal summit held in Brussels last July involved discussions among EU heads of state and government on appointments for key EU roles for the next five years (2024-2029), including the position of President of the European Commission.
