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Added on the 02/03/2020 12:25:50 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
Ireland loses the EU's coveted top trade job, paying the price for mistakes made by Phil Hogan, who resigned after breaking coronavirus guidelines. Instead, the post of trade commissioner now goes to EU veteran Valdis Dombrovskis, a former Latvian prime minister who is seen as a steady pair of hands for one of the bloc's most sensitive jobs. Ireland, however, did better than expected in the reshuffle, with the important financial services portfolio going to the country's new commissioner, senior MEP Mairead McGuinness, the EU said. SOUNDBITE
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announces that the EU will propose a bloc-wide guarantee that could raise 100 billion euros ($109 billion) to aid strained national unemployment schemes as millions of jobs are hit by efforts to slow the coronavirus outbreak. SOUNDBITE
EU lawmakers vote on whether to hand European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen a second five-year term. 719 MEPs are gathering for the secret ballot in the European Parliament's first sitting in Strasbourg, France, since the June elections. IMAGES
The current President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, addresses the European Parliament. The MEPs then vote on whether or not to grant her a second term. SOUNDBITE
Supporters of the European People's Party (EPP) and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, celebrate in Brussels after vote projections show the centre-right group in first place. IMAGES