"Protection of our European lifestyle": Von der Leyen holds controversial name for migration ministry

"Protecting our European lifestyle" - this title of an EU Commission department is the subject of heated debate. However, the future EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) wants to stick to it for the time being. Von der Leyen wants to first wait for the hearings of the designated members of their Commission in the European Parliament, said the leader of the Conservative Group, Manfred Weber (CSU), "then we'll see."

According to the will of the Leyens, the Conservative Margaritis Schinas is to coordinate the migration and asylum policy of the EU under the controversial banner. This accused the former Defense Minister of defending the extreme right. Social Democrats, Liberals, Greens and Leftists called for a name change.

"Unconvinced"

"She did not propose any changes, but she said she was open about it," said Green Party co-head of the Greens, Ska Keller, following a summit meeting with von der Leyen, which had been scheduled for the controversy ,

"She promised to think about it and make changes," said Liberal leader Dacian Ciolos. So far, however, he was "not convinced" by the statements of the future Commission President. He called for the concerns to be cleared up even before the hearings of the Commission candidates.

"I did not feel she was ready to make any changes," said Nicolas Bay of the right-wing populist I & D group. Von der Leyen noted that "immigration has an impact on identity and security, seriously affecting and threatening our European way of life," he added.

From the Leyen itself expressed after the conversation with the group chairmen not to the criticism of the department name.

The European Parliament will vote on the new European Commission on 23 October. Before that, between 30 September and 8 October, the hearings of the Commissioners designate will take place in the specialized committees in the European Parliament.