By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has on behalf of government and people of South Africa congratulated European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen – a valued friend of South Africa and our continent.
Von der Leyen was elected for a second term on Thursday after pledging to create a continental “defence union” and stay the course on Europe’s green transition while cushioning its burden on industry.
Members of the European parliament backed von der Leyen’s bid for another five-year term at the helm of the EU’s powerful executive body with 401 votes in her favour and 284 against in a secret ballot in the 720-member chamber.
In a statement on X, Ramaphosa said, “I wish you the very best in your new term as you pursue your stated vision of the expansion of democracy, prosperity and stability across Europe.”
“I look forward as well to the deepening of the partnership between South Africa, and our continent at large, with the European Union.
“Your declaration that “democracy is our common treasure”, applies as much within Europe as it does between our two continents, added Ramaphosa.
South Africa is a major diplomatic hub and the European Union Delegation works in close coordination with the 22 out of 27 European Union Member States who have a diplomatic presence in South Africa.
In an address to the parliament in Strasbourg on Thusrday, von der Leyen laid out a programme focused on prosperity and security, shaped by the challenges of Russia’s war in Ukraine, global economic competition and climate change.
“The next five years will define Europe’s place in the world for the next five decades. It will decide whether we shape our own future or let it be shaped by events or by others,” Von der Leyen said ahead of a secret ballot on her candidacy.
She stressed the need not to backtrack on the “Green Deal” transformation of the EU economy to fight climate change — a main pledge for Green legislators, who joined centre-right, centre-left and liberal groups in backing her for the post.
After pledging to support Ukraine for as long as it takes in its fight against Russia, Von der Leyen said Europe’s liberty was at stake and it must invest more in defence.
Von der Leyen, a centre-right former German defence minister, pledged to create “a true European defence union”, with flagship projects on air and cyber defence.
The plan sparked criticism from the Kremlin, which said it reflected an attitude of “militarisation (and) confrontation”.
Von der Leyen blasted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s recent visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as an “appeasement mission”, winning broad applause from legislators.
In the coming weeks, she will propose her team of commissioners, who will undergo individual hearings before a final vote on the whole commission later in the year.