Ursula von der Leyen the after a meeting of political groups in Brussels | Olivier Hoslet/EFE via EPA Renew Europe lists conditions for backing von der Leyen The centrist-liberal group wants a promotion for Margrethe Vestager and bigger climate goals, among other things.

Renew Europe set out in writing its conditions for backing Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president, including a promotion for Margrethe Vestager and bigger climate ambitions.

The centrist-liberal group listed its demands in a letter signed by group leader Dacian Cioloș and dated Thursday, a day after von der Leyen met with political groups to try to win support ahead of a European Parliament vote next week on her candidacy for the top EU job.

The letter signals that winning Renew Europe's backing will not come easy. It lists "a number of outstanding issues that will clearly determine" whether or not the group will support von der Leyen, currently Germany's defense minister.

The group demands, among other things, a firm commitment that Vestager, the liberals’ candidate for Commission president and current competition commissioner, will get a vice presidency post in the Commission that is equal in rank to her Social Democrat rival, Frans Timmermans.

"To be clear, Mrs Margrethe Vestager should be on exactly the same footing as Mr Frans Timmermans, with a strong political responsibility, with decision-making power and a solid portfolio," the letter states.

Renew Europe also wants von der Leyen to commit to setting up a European mechanism on the rule of law for all EU countries, which would include a sanctions regime for violating the bloc's principles.

On the climate front, Renew Europe said that the EU needs to reduce its emissions by 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990s levels, up from the current 40 percent goal. "A commitment to reaching these targets will be very important."

So far, von der Leyen has pledged a goal of 50 percent, which is still more than what her group, the European People's Party, has agreed to.

Renew Europe also wants new free-trade agreements to "include binding clauses on climate and environmental standards, economic and social goals."

"All the issues above are cumulative and we will need for each one of them a clear and explicit commitment from your side," the letter states.

Von der Leyen is counting on the backing of her center-right European People's Party, which controls 182 seats in Parliament, but that still leaves her shy of half of the absolute majority needed for confirmation to the EU's top job. The Greens and leftist groups have already said they will reject her.