There was champagne and kisses in Brussels as Jean-Claude Juncker handed over the Presidency of the European Commission to Ursula von der Leyen.  

Germany's von der Leyen becomes the first female president of the commission, in essence the EU's cabinet, which polices the bloc's laws and negotiates its trade deals.  

During the ceremony, von der Leyen praised her predecessor. "Europe today is in a much better shape than when you entered the Berlaymont. At that time crisis emerged all over and around Europe."

The ascension of von der Leyen was delayed after a row over EU commissioners but, now in post, the German has vowed to focus on climate change, improved digital infrastructure and getting the Brexit issue resolved.  

The often fraught negotiations between the EU and UK over Brexit were a big part of Juncker's latter years. Often blunt in his dealings, Juncker was not a favourite of Britain's pro-Brexit press and politicians. 

Despite three years of talks and two deals struck between the UK and the EU it will now be up to von der Leyen to take on the issue.

She told reporters that yackling climate change woul be a key priority for her: "The European Union wants to be the first climate neutral continent in 2050. Europe is leading in this topic and we know that we have to be ambitious for our planet."

The president's agenda may be undermined in the short term, as a row is festering in the bloc over its upcoming budget. 

Member states are battling over the EU's priorities for the next seven years, with Germany leading calls for the maintenance of rebates for the bloc's wealthier nations while their opponents, including Poland and Spain are calling for the rebates to be abolished.  

Von der Leyen will serve alongside former Belgian premier Charles Michel, who replaces Donald Tusk, as president of the European Council and ex-IMF chief Christine Lagarde as European Central Bank President.