GENDER EQUALITY

Von der Leyen's election marks a milestone for women in EU politics, and she promised in the speech she would lead by example in gender equality: "I will ensure full gender equality in my College of Commissioners. If Member States do not propose enough female Commissioners, I will not hesitate to ask for new names."

Each of the 28 EU member states is entitled to one European Commissioner, responsible for a specific portfolio.

"Since 1958 there have been 183 Commissioners. Only 35 were women. That is less than 20 percent. We represent half of our population. We want our fair share," Von der Leyen said.

COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE

Von der Leyen also highlighted the combat against climate change in her Tuesday morning speech, saying "I want Europe to become the first climate-neutral continent in the world by 2050" and vowing to "put forward the first ever European Climate Law which will set the 2050 target into law."

She will put forward a Green Deal for Europe in her first 100 days in office, Von der Leyen said.

She also promised leadership from the EU to lead international negotiations to increase the level of ambition of other major economies by 2021.

But her seemingly ambitious words failed to woo the Greens in the European Parliament, who said after her speech that they would not vote for her as von der Leyen's promise didn't meet their expectations.

TAX ON TECH GIANTS

Von der Leyen also sent thinly-veiled warnings to tech giants in Europe, asking them to "share the burden" of taxation.

"When the tech giants are making huge profits in Europe, this is fine because we are an open market and we like competition," she said, adding that "it is not acceptable that they make profits, but they are barely paying any taxes because they play our tax system."

A EU-wide tax scheme on tech giants, mostly companies headquartered in the United States, have stalled because of resistance from member states such as Ireland, but latest tax laws from France have recently reignited the debate and stoked threats of retaliation from Washington.