Newsroom
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has emerged politically strengthened after surviving two motions of censure in the European Parliament, but faces ongoing scrutiny over EU policies and allegations of espionage involving Hungary.
Yesterday, 378 and 383 MEPs backed her Commission against motions tabled by far-right and far-left groups, exceeding the support she received in previous votes. Centrist lawmakers, along with the Greens/EFA and European Conservatives and Reformists, rallied behind von der Leyen amid concerns over trade policy, transparency, and governance.
Despite this parliamentary backing, the Commission faces criticism over key initiatives, including the €150 billion defence loans scheme, EU trade agreements with Mercosur and the United States, and the proposed 2028–2034 EU budget. Controversial plans to merge agricultural and regional funds into a single national pot have sparked opposition from member states and MEPs, who warn of underfunding and misuse. Negotiations over potential revisions are ongoing.
In addition, von der Leyen will address espionage allegations linked to Hungary directly with Hungarian Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, who oversees Health and Animal Welfare. Reports suggest that between 2012 and 2018, Budapest pressured its nationals in EU institutions to conduct espionage. Varhelyi, who led the Hungarian representation in Brussels at the time, has come under particular scrutiny. Budapest has rejected the claims as a “smear campaign.”
The European Commission has announced the formation of an internal group to examine the allegations, while Transparency International has called for an independent investigation by the European Parliament.
Analysts note that von der Leyen’s handling of global crises, including the Israel-Hamas conflict, and her engagement with Parliament on the 2026 work programme, have helped maintain centrist support. Yet, opposition from the far-left and far-right persists, and future votes of confidence and policy debates, particularly on the EU budget, are expected to test the resilience of her leadership.
With information from Euronews and European Newsroom.
