The EPP MEP, Petri Sarvamaa, believes that the approach of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will change after the upcoming summer European elections. According to him, it will be “same name, different person.” Sarvamaa is a member of the coalition and has been critical of von der Leyen’s leadership since she took office. He believes that the EU has wasted the last five years under her leadership, failing to strengthen the internal market or competitiveness.
Sarvamaa criticizes von der Leyen for being inexperienced when she took office and allowing others to seize power within the Commission. He particularly points to the Green Deal program, which he believes was poorly managed and dominated by one political area. Despite his criticisms, Sarvamaa acknowledges that a more balanced approach seems to be emerging under von der Leyen’s recent comments. He predicts that the next five years will bring a different leadership style from the same person.
Another coalition MEP, Henna Virkkunen, disagrees with Sarvamaa and praises von der Leyen’s handling of crises such as the corona pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The European Parliament and Commission have five-year terms, with discussions about their direction and leadership ongoing. The coalition members in Strasbourg recently discussed these issues, with differing opinions on von der Leyen’s effectiveness and the future direction of the EU.
