The next European Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, will almost certainly not be able to take office as scheduled on November 1. It comes after the European Parliament overwhelmingly rejected her three candidates, including Sylvie Goulard – the French nominee to be commissioner responsible for the EU’s internal market and defence. Compounding Ms von der Leyen’s problems, Romania’s government collapsed, and it is now unclear when Bucharest will be able to replace its Commission nominee, Rovana Plumb.
Alberto Alemanno, Jean Monnet Professor of European Union Law and Policy, told Politico: “We can no longer take for granted that Ursula von der Leyen will become the next president of the European Commission and her team need an approval by a clear solid majority of the Parliament.
“As up today, Ursula von der Leyen has not a team, she does not have a majority supporting her political agenda.”
Speaking with Express.co.uk, Italian MEP Marco Campomenosi had already predicted that Ms von der Leyen would have soon found herself in trouble.
He warned that his political group Identity and Democracy (ID), which includes Salvini’s League party and Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, would have blocked many of the President-elect’s proposals.
He said: “I am a member of a group of eurosceptics, which has effectively doubled its members and today, in the EU, we are decisive.
“Ms Von der Leyen had a majority of only nine MEPs but it is a fake majority because it starts with some conservatives and goes all the way to the extreme left.
“It is clear that on certain measures, she will not have the majority to move forward.”
Mr Campomenosi noted: “We will only support measures that go towards a real change – towards giving back to member states their legislative power.
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“Just going out as Italy would not save Europe.
“We have seen it how a proud, great country like the UK has been put in difficulty.”