EU Commission’s Past Five Years: Coalition MEP Slams Lack of Strengthening Internal Market and Competitiveness, While Another MEP Praises Crisis Management Skills

MEP Petri Sarvamaa of the coalition has expressed his concern over the European Union’s past five years under the current Commission’s leadership, claiming that it has not strengthened the internal market or competitiveness. According to him, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a German and member of the center-right EPP party, will change her approach after the summer European elections.

Sarvamaa believes that von der Leyen lacks experience and allowed others to seize power within the Commission, particularly in areas such as climate and the European green transition program Green Deal. However, he sees a shift towards a more balanced approach with reports commissioned on the internal market, competitiveness, and preparedness.

On the other hand, MEP Henna Virkkunen disagrees with Sarvamaa and praises von der Leyen’s handling of crises over the past five years, such as the corona pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Despite their differences of opinion within the coalition regarding the effectiveness and direction of the European Commission under von der Leyen’s leadership.