Ursula von der Leyen

Canada’s Carney to attend EU’s State of the Union

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will join European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for the most high-profile political moment in the EU's calendar, amid a worsening rift between the…

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Greek PM Mitsotakis urges EU to use all available tools against ‘weaponized’ migration

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged the European Union to make full use of existing legal and operational tools to counter what he described as the “weaponization” of migration, arguing…

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EU Socialists accuse governments of politicising Ceuta and undermining Schengen

The Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to intervene immediately to clarify the rules governing any suspension of the…

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Brussels Unveils Fresh Russia Sanctions Package, Drawing Sharp Rebuke from Moscow

The European Union is moving to tighten pressure on Russia through a new package of sanctions targeting oil exports, cryptocurrency channels and individuals who fought in Ukraine, while Moscow has…

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EU Steps Up Support for Ukraine, Warns of Prolonged Energy Strain From Middle East Conflict

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday the European Union will press ahead with financial and military support for Ukraine while bracing for extended economic fallout from the…

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Cyprus maritime push aligns with Maltese MEPs’ ongoing ETS island clause initiative

Cyprus has reaffirmed its commitment to shaping a fair and resilient European transport framework, with a particular focus on maritime connectivity for island states, in a position that runs broadly…

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EU welcomes US-Iran ceasefire, urges efforts to create lasting agreement

EU leaders on Wednesday welcomed the two-week ceasefire agreed by the United States and Iran. "I welcome ‌the two-week ceasefire the US and Iran agreed last night. It brings much…

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Von der Leyen promises ETS tweaks in ‘days’

The European Commission will make a proposal to boost the bloc's carbon market reserve within "days" and develop a €30 billion decarbonization fund, in response to pressure from EU leaders…

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Von der Leyen questions Europe’s faith in rules-based order

The EU must decide whether the rules-based international order “is more a help or a hindrance to our credibility as a geopolitical actor”, the bloc’s top official said on Monday,…

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Does Trump’s new ‘surcharge’ make EU worse off than under trade deal?

The EU has demanded that the United States stick to the terms of a trade deal they agreed last year after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump's…

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EU needs market reform, simpler regulations — von der Leyen

The European Union must simplify its capital market and regulations in order to reduce fragmentation and boost the bloc's competitiveness, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday. "Our…

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Von der Leyen’s ‘style’ not good for Europe

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's leadership style has drawn criticism from former administration members. Nicolas Schmidt, ex-Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, expressed concern over the centralisation of…

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EU Must Act with Unity and Strength, von der Leyen Says

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called on the European Union to accelerate its efforts to strengthen independence and strategic power in response to a rapidly changing global…

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EU response to Trump’s tariffs will be ‘unflinching’, says Ursula von der Leyen

The European Union's response to Trump's tariffs over Greenland would be "unflinching", Ursula von der Leyen said as the American president doubled down on his desire to acquire the sprawling…

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Cyprus casts doubt on EU outreach to Putin as it takes rotating presidency

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and her team of commissioners were in Cyprus on Wednesday to mark the start of the island nation’s six-month rotating presidency of the…

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Von der Leyen Pledges EU Support While Germany Proposes Greenland Deployment

European leaders and defense officials are weighing a stronger presence in Greenland amid mounting pressure from the United States, raising concerns about the Arctic territory’s security and sovereignty. Patrick Sensburg,…

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European Commission Strives to Preserve Institutional Credibility Amid Diplomacy Scandal

Ursula von der Leyen is separating herself from the corruption allegations engulfing the EU’s diplomatic service, with staffers saying it is a non-issue for the Commission chief. After Belgian authorities…

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Russian assets most effective way to finance Ukraine, von der Leyen says

EU member states have three options to fund Ukraine's financing needs, with a reparations loan based on immobilised Russian assets as the most effective option, EU Commission President Ursula von…

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EU’s von der Leyen survives two no-confidence votes

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen comfortably survived two bids to remove her when the European Parliament rejected no-confidence motions from hard-right and left groups on Thursday. EU lawmakers…

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EU Chief: Drone Incidents Show Europe Under Coordinated Hybrid Attack

Recent drone incidents and other airspace violations show Europe is facing hybrid warfare to which it must respond with measures that go beyond traditional defence, EU Commission President Ursula von…

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Von der Leyen Defiant in Brussels, Accuses Rivals of Playing Into Putin’s Hands

Ursula von der Leyen appealed for unity when she appeared before MEPs on Monday ― for the sake of the whole of Europe. Three months on from the last time…

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Leadership Under Fire: Von der Leyen Targeted by Two Censure Efforts

Three months after surviving her first-ever motion of censure, Ursula von der Leyen faces not one but two simultaneous attempts to topple her European Commission. The debate in the European…

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Von der Leyen says not thinking about German presidential election

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen isn’t thinking about running in Germany’s 2027 presidential election, the German politician said in a newspaper interview published on Sunday. “I am fully…

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Von der Leyen Urges Strategic Autonomy for Europe in Face of War, Rising Tensions

The European Union’s most powerful official warned Wednesday that Europe is battling against a series of threats posed by Russia, new global trade challenges and even other major world powers…

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EU Commission chief von der Leyen says she’s ‘not available’ for German presidency

Ursula von der Leyen is not available to be the next German president, a spokesperson for the European Commission chief has told Euronews, in response to German media reports connecting…

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Trump, EU’s von der Leyen discuss plight of children in war

U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday they spoke about missing children due to conflict as Trump hosted European and NATO leaders…

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A New World Dawns: Von der Leyen Declares End of Postwar Order

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday warned that recent political convulsions have permanently reshaped the established world order. The specter of Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s war in…

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Von der Leyen to dilute budget plan to stave off Commission rebellion

The threat of internal revolt in the European Commission has pushed its president to back down and promise more money to poor regions than previously intended when she presents her…

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UPDATED: Von der Leyen wins vote of no-confidence

Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday survived a no-confidence vote in her leadership of the European Commission. A majority of members of the European Parliament, who voted on a motion…

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Von der Leyen defends herself over ‘Pfizergate’

Ursula von der Leyen publicly defended herself for the first time over text messages she exchanged with a vaccine chief at the height of Covid-19 — describing some accusations against her as…

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Von der Leyen to face European Parliament confidence vote next week

The MEP proposing the motion of censure claims he has collected enough signatures to start the process. If officially confirmed, the debate and vote will be held during the July…

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EU alliance with Pacific rim could lead to WTO redesign, von der Leyen says

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said cooperation with Pacific rim countries could serve as a basis to redesign the World Trade Organization (WTO), which is struggling for relevance…

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In riposte to Vance, Germany’s Merz says Europe stands for freedom

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday said Europe was prepared to fight if necessary for its core values of freedom and democracy, in an explicit riposte to the Trump administration's…

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Trump says he wants to meet ‘so fantastic’ von der Leyen

Donald Trump shook the world on Thursday when he poured heaps of praise on Ursula von der Leyen. “She’s so fantastic,” the U.S. president said twice of the head of…

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‘The West as we knew it no longer exists’: Ursula von der Leyen

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told the German weekly Die Zeit that “the West as we knew it no longer exist,” as she spoke of “historic” changes taking…

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EU’s Ursula Von der Leyen marks 100 days of mandate

Ursula von der Leyen has marked the first 100 days of her second mandate at the helm of the European Commission with an hour-long press conference. It opened on a…

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Europe must urgently rearm, EU’s Von der Leyen says

Ursula von der Leyen has called for "comprehensive" security guarantees for Ukraine that can deter future Russian aggression. The European Union must "urgently" rearm and help Ukraine turn into a…

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Caribbean leader tells EU chief: Apologise and pay reparations for slavery

Former colonial powers must apologise and pay compensation for their historic role in the enslavement of Africans, Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.…

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Von der Leyen Calls for Accelerated Ukraine EU Accession at Munich Security Conference

The Munich Security Conference commenced with a moment of silence for the victims of Thursday’s car ramming attack in Munich, which left at least 36 people injured, including several in…

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Von der Leyen to host CEOs after unveiling EU’s economic plan

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will present her plan to revive the European Union’s flagging economy to over 300 industry leaders in Antwerp on Feb. 26, multiple attendees…

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EU’s Von der Leyen warns against ‘global race to bottom’ on tariffs in Davos

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Tuesday of the risk of a 'global race to the bottom' using economic tools such as sanctions, export controls and tariffs.…

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Von der Leyen named winner of the prestigious Charlemagne Prize

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was named the winner of the prestigious Charlemagne Prize for her handling of "crises of historic proportions," the award's organizers said Wednesday. "This…

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EU’s Von der Leyen has not received invite to Trump inauguration, spokesperson says

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has not yet received an invitation to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, a spokesperson said on Friday. "If she receives…

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Ursula von der Leyen’s pneumonia delays unveiling her key competitiveness initiative

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's bout of severe pneumonia has forced a delay to the unveiling of her Competitiveness Compass, a key piece of her economic doctrine scheduled…

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EU lawmakers endorse Von der Leyen’s new European Commission

Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday secured European Parliament backing for her new team at the European Commission, paving the way for her to take office at the start of…

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Ursula von der Leyen Updates Hiring Guidelines for Commissioners

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen set new hiring rules for incoming commissioners as they form their top teams. The rules aim to ensure diversity in nationality, gender and…

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Ursula von der Leyen Challenges Hungary’s Ties with Russia and China

Hungary is putting European security at risk, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday in an unusually blunt speech blasting Budapest’s relationship with Russia and China. Speaking…

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Resetting UK-EU Ties: Starmer and Von der Leyen’s Key Talks Next Week

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit Brussels next week for talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about “resetting” Britain’s relationship with the European Union. “I want…

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UPDATED: EU to provide Ukraine with loan worth up to 35 bln euros – von der Leyen

The EU will grant a loan of up to 35 billion euros ($39.06 billion)to Ukraine to help the country stuck in a grinding war with Russia, EU Commission President Ursulo…

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5 takeaways on Ursula von der Leyen’s new Commission

Here are the key highlights from Ursula von der Leyen's new team of European commissioners, presented after months of anticipation, debate, and last-minute adjustments. The German politician succeeded in forming…

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Von der Leyen delays unveiling of new European Commission until next week

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has delayed her 26 commissioner nominees’ portfolios until next week, according to three officials with knowledge of the decision. Initially, von der Leyen’s…

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Von der Leyen pressures EU countries to swap women in as commissioner picks

Ursula von der Leyen is piling pressure on EU countries to nominate women for the next European Commission as she seeks to stave off the potential humiliation of presenting a…

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Von der Leyen set to miss gender-balance target for EU top jobs

Ursula von der Leyen is set to miss her target of a gender-balanced top team at the European Commission, after EU governments snubbed her request to propose male and female…

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Italy’s Meloni put domestic concerns first in rejecting von der Leyen

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's decision not to back Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission chief was driven by fear of losing rightwing grassroots supporters, analysts say, but may…

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Von der Leyen gets second term as EU Commission boss. What happens now?

Ursula von der Leyen was approved by the European Parliament on Thursday for a second five-year term as president of the European Commission, the EU's powerful executive body. EU lawmakers…

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UPDATED: Von der Leyen re-elected Commission President

Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected Commission President, with 401 votes. She needed 360 to secure a majority. Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected as president of the…

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European Commission chief von der Leyen faces precarious vote on new term

Ursula von der Leyen has spent weeks trying to convince European Union lawmakers to back her for a second term as president of the European Commission. The European Parliament will…

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