国际英语资讯:Spotlight: New European Commission approved by EU lawmakers_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: New European Commission approved by EU lawmakers

"My Commission will not be afraid to speak the language of confidence and assertiveness. But we will do it our way, the European way," she said. "This is the geopolitical Commission that I have in mind and that Europe urgently needs."

The term "geopolitical" has become von der Leyen's oft-used term, and it is understood to mean that the bloc will be more active in external affairs.

Strahinja Subotic of the think tank European Policy Center (EPC) wrote in an analysis, saying that the European Commission will increase its focus on external action, while the position of its top diplomat will be strengthened, and the rise of external actors in the western Balkans will be monitored more closely.

CLIMATE CHANGE

In line with the EU's increasing attention on climate change, von der Leyen described it "existential issue for Europe - and for the world."

"How can it not be existential when we see Venice under water, Portugal's forests on fire, or Lithuania's harvests cut by half because of droughts?" she asked, referring to recent events. "This has happened before but never with the same frequency or intensity," she noted.

In July, von der Leyen promised a European Green Deal to EU lawmakers and in Wednesday's speech she again spent considerable time on it, albeit with few new details except statements like "the European Union will mainstream climate financing throughout its budget, but also throughout capital markets and the entire investment chain."