Ursula von der Leyen, 65, was comfortably reappointed on Thursday for a second five-year term at the head of the European Commission. The outgoing president therefore once again obtained the green light from MEPs for which the support of ecologists was crucial.
Green parliamentarians want to continue with determination to put the fight against climate change and against inequalities on the agenda at all levels of power. In the European Parliament, the Belgian Green Party chose Saskia Bricmont to bring the values of the Belgian Greens to the European Parliament. Bricmont is therefore preparing to lead a mandate of resistance against the far right and the conservative right.
“We must not give in on defending the values on which the European Union is based, from the protection of fundamental rights to the construction of a common future that benefits everyone. Faced with the far right who want to limit our freedoms and divide our society, we defend a project for an open, tolerant, fair and sustainable society,” explains Saskia Bricmont, Ecolo MEP.

A first important vote was held last week with the investiture election of Ursula von der Leyen, the candidate proposed by the member states to occupy the presidency of the European Commission. Saskia Bricmont recommends that Ursula von der Leyen commit to continuing the European Green Deal in order to make it a green and social Deal to support all citizens in the ecological transition.
“I also expect her to make firm commitments in terms of protecting the rule of law, for a migration policy that respects fundamental rights. Agricultural anger has highlighted the urgency of revising the free trade policy pursued by the Commission: we need new rules, respectful of human, social and environmental rights, which put an end to unfair competition which penalizes farmers in particular. Finally, I expect a clear commitment not to collaborate with the extreme right,” underlines Saskia Bricmont.
As is happening at the Belgian level, this representative of Ecolo in the European Parliament intends to continue working with civil society and will rely on the aspirations and field knowledge of numerous citizen associations, with the aim of being the relay for issues that live in society.