
EU's von der Leyen survives parliament confidence vote brought by far-right
As expected, the motion failed to get the two-thirds majority it needed to pass. Only 175 members of parliament backed the motion, while 360 voted against and 18 abstained.
Romanian nationalist Gheorghe Piperea, the lead sponsor of the motion, had criticized among other things the Commission's refusal to disclose text messages between von der Leyen and the chief executive of vaccine maker Pfizer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
'The decision-making has become opaque and discretionary, and raises fears of abuse and corruption. The cost of obsessive bureaucracy of the European Union such as (tackling) climate change has been a huge one,' Piperea told the parliament on Monday.
During the debate on her leadership, von der Leyen defended her record in parliament, rejecting criticism of her management of the pandemic and asserting that her approach ensured equal vaccine access across the EU.
Although the censure motion had little chance of success, it was a political headache for von der Leyen as her Commission negotiates with US President Donald Trump's administration to try to prevent steep US tariffs on EU goods.
It was the first time since 2014 that a Commission president has faced such a motion. Then President Jean-Claude Juncker also survived the vote.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Unilever's (UL) Resilient Business Model Underpins Its Dividend Reliability
Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) is included among the Top 10 Safest Dividend Stocks in the UK. A supermarket shelf overflowing with a variety of fast-moving consumer goods. The U.K.-based giant Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) holds a vast portfolio of consumer staples and everyday household brands, spanning everything from cleaning supplies and personal care products to food items. In June, the company reached a deal to purchase the men's grooming company Dr. Squatch from private equity firm Summit Partners in a transaction valued at $1.5 billion, as per a Financial Times report. Dr. Squatch has built a strong reputation for offering high-quality, natural personal care items, particularly appealing to millennial and Gen Z male consumers. The company is reportedly on course to exceed $400 million in annual revenue. In the first quarter, Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) achieved underlying sales growth of 3%, demonstrating the strength of its increasingly premium and innovation-driven portfolio in developed markets. It has implemented strategies in certain emerging markets to accelerate growth in the remainder of the year. Despite ongoing global economic uncertainties, the company remains confident in meeting its full-year targets due to the quality of its innovation program, substantial brand investments, and enhanced competitiveness. Unilever PLC (NYSE:UL) also grabs investors' attention due to its strong dividend policy. The company currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.5151 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.21%, as of July 25. While we acknowledge the potential of UL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Is NatWest (NWG) Quietly Becoming One of the UK's Most Reliable Dividend Payers?
NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG) is included among the Top 10 Safest Dividend Stocks in the UK. A person using a laptop to access a bank's online banking system. NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG) is an Edinburgh-based company that offers mortgages, loans, credit cards, and related services. The company recently announced its results for the first half of the year, highlighting a £4.2 billion increase in net loans to customers, bringing the total to £336.2 billion. This figure includes £2.2 billion in personal loans and credit card balances acquired from Sainsbury's Bank as of June 30, 2025. Within Retail Banking, NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG)'s mortgage balances grew by £4.1 billion, while Commercial & Institutional balances rose by £2.0 billion, mainly due to increased lending activity in the Commercial Mid-market segment, particularly to housebuilders and housing associations, as well as within the Corporate & Institutions division. NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG) reported an operating cash flow of £2.5 billion. The company also returned £1.4 billion to shareholders through dividends during this period. Its semi-annual dividend comes in at $0.1543 per share for a dividend yield of 3.92%, as of July 25. While we acknowledge the potential of NWG as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Why Smith & Nephew (SNN) Deserves a Spot Among the UK's Safest Dividend Stocks
Smith & Nephew plc (NYSE:SNN) is included among the Top 10 Safest Dividend Stocks in the UK. A healthcare professional putting the finishing touches on a patient's knee implant in an operating theater. Smith & Nephew plc (NYSE:SNN), a global medical technology company based in the UK, provides a broad selection of products and services in the medical equipment sector to meet the needs of its customers. In its Q1 2025 earnings, Smith & Nephew plc (NYSE:SNN) reported a strong start to the year, attributing growth across its portfolio to progress made under its 12-Point Plan for operational improvements. Core platforms, including CORI, EVOS, REGENETEN, and the company's Negative Pressure Wound Therapy offerings, saw robust double-digit growth during the quarter. The company also continued its rapid pace of innovation, with additional product launches planned for the year. While challenges from the Chinese market persisted, management believes the worst of their impact has likely passed. Smith & Nephew plc (NYSE:SNN) has a progressive dividend policy and has paid regular dividends to shareholders since 1937. The company currently offers a semi-annual dividend of $0.288 per share for a dividend yield of 2.37%, as of July 25. It is one of the best FTSE dividend stocks to invest in. While we acknowledge the potential of SNN as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and Disclosure: None. Sign in to access your portfolio