(ANSA-AFP) - BRUSSELS, NOV 21 - The European Parliament's
main political groups struck a deal Wednesday to greenlight the
EU's new executive team -- including a controversial hard-right
commissioner -- after a week-long standoff threatened to derail
the process. Leaders of the centre-right European People's
Party, the centre-left Socialists and Democrats and centrist
Renew agreed to back Ursula von der Leyen's new European
Commission, clearing the way for a parliament confirmation vote
next week and a December start. Senior lawmakers gave the
go-ahead following late-night talks in Brussels to the seven
commission members whose approval was still pending -- including
all six of its vice-presidents, the political groups involved
confirmed. Ensuring a swift handover at the EU's helm is seen as
critical as the bloc grapples with complex challenges -- from
wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, to the economic threat from
China and now the imminent return of Donald Trump to the White
House. But the process hit a stalemate last week as lawmakers
squabbled over several nominees, amid a broader tussle over the
balance of power in parliament. (ANSA-AFP).
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