The European Parliament on Wednesday approved the new European Commission led by German Christian Democrat Ursula von der Leyen after she presented her college of commissioners and programme.

The Commission was approved by 461 votes in favour, 157 against and 89 abstentions. Its five-year terms starts running on 1 December, the tenth anniversary of the Treaty of Lisbon, and ends on 31 October 2024.

The new Commission has eight vice-presidents, including three executive vice-presidents. One of the vice-presidents is Croatia’s Dubravka Suica, who is in charge of demography and democracy.

Earlier on Wednesday, van der Leyen presented her college of commissioners and programme which she said would touch “every part of our society and economy” in the next five years and put Europe on the global stage as a key power in dealing with global challenges.

Europe should become a leader in tackling global problems, from a transition to zero greenhouse gas emissions to a digital and economic power establishing a balance between the market and society, she said.

Putting special emphasis on climate, she said that European might become the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050.

On the subject of EU enlargement, van der Leyen said that the EU must demonstrate to its friends in the Western Balkans that they have the same continent, the same history and culture, and that they will share the same destiny too. “Our door remains open,” she added.