Ursula von der Leyen

Olaf Scholz ‘categorically against’ Ursula von der Leyen becoming NATO chief

Olaf Scholz blocked Ursula von der Leyen from becoming the new head of NATO because he believed she would be too tough on Russia, German media reported. The German chancellor,…

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European Commission outlines upcoming defence strategy proposal

By Julia Payne The European Commission will present a defence industrial strategy proposal in three weeks, commission president Ursula von der Leyen said, and will also open a defence innovation…

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EU’s centre-right expects to nominate von der Leyen for second term – EPP’s Caspary

BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Union's main centre-right alliance will nominate Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as European Commission president at a congress in March if she…

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UK should rejoin EU to ‘fix’ Brexit, says Ursula von der Leyen

The United Kingdom should rejoin the European Union to “fix” Brexit, Ursula von der Leyen has said, after Labour pledged to forge closer ties with the bloc if elected. The…

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UPDATED: EU Commission president ‘unfazed’ by Hungarian billboard campaign

The European Commission’s chief spokesperson, Eric Mamer, declined to directly criticise a new Hungarian government campaign which includes billboards depicting commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Open Society Foundations…

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EU’s von der Leyen visits Kyiv ahead of report on accession progress

KYIV, Nov 4 (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Saturday ahead of a report the European Union is expected to present next week…

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UPDATED: EU’s Von der Leyen and EU Parliament President Metsola head to Israel

The presidents of the European Commission and Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen and Roberta Metsola, will visit Israel on Friday in the wake of Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel and…

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Biden, EU’s von der Leyen set to meet in Washington on Oct. 20

Sept 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are set to meet on Oct, 20, likely in Washington, Bloomberg News reported on…

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Greens criticise von der Leyen over plan to not run as MEP

The European Green Party sharply criticized Ursula von der Leyen for her plan to potentially stand for a second term as president of the European Commission without running for election…

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Von der Leyen won’t stand as MEP in next year’s EU election

Ursula von der Leyen won’t run in Germany for a seat in the European Parliament in next year’s EU election — but may nevertheless become the center right’s lead candidate…

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UPDATED: Ursula von der Leyen gives annual EU State of the Union speech

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is outlining the EU's main priorities and initiatives for the year to come on Wednesday morning as she delivers the annual State of…

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Ursula von der Leyen remains silent on her second term as Commission president

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen refused to say if she will put herself forward for a second five-year term in the Berlaymont. “Nice try,” the German conservative told…

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EU to earmark 15 billion euros for migration policies

BRUSSELS, June 20 (Reuters) - The European Union will provide a 15 billion euro ($16.39 billion) budget to boost migration policies, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday.…

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UPDATED: EU considering major Tunisia aid package as migration surges

TUNIS, June 11 (Reuters) - The European Union is considering over 1 billion euros ($1.07 billion) in aid for Tunisia to help develop its battered economy, rescue state finances and…

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Photo Story: European Commission President von der Leyen visits Venice

A handout photo made available by the press office of the Municipality of Venice (Comune di Venezia) of President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (L) with Italian…

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G7 members should not compete against each other on renewables – von der Leyen

By Andreas Rinke HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 19 (Reuters) - The Group of Seven (G7) rich nations should work together to access technology and secure sources of critical minerals for a…

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Macron and Von der Leyen’s last day in China, Xi, Macron to hold informal talks in Guangzhou

French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Guangzhou in southern China today to meet students on Friday, taking with him a broad delegation of top politicians, business leaders and even…

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UPDATED: EU’s von der Leyen: EU-China trade relationship increasingly imbalanced

French President visits China with EU chief von der Leyen Both due to meet China's Xi Jinping later EU-China relations have soured in recent years Trade and Ukraine high on…

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Between ‘reset’ and ‘de-risk’, EU leaders pay rare visit to China

Von der Leyen and Macron fly to Beijing First such trips since 2019 Trade risks and Ukraine in mind By Michel Rose and Laurie Chen BEIJING, April 5 (Reuters) -…

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EU’s von der Leyen to visit China April 5-7

BEIJING, April 3 (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit China from April 5 to 7, the Chinese foreign ministry announced on Monday, a trip that…

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Ursula von der Leyen in the running to be new NATO head

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in the running to be the new head of Nato, The Sun newspaper reported, citing a diplomatic source. A number of Nato member states have suggested von der Leyen would…

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China more repressive at home, assertive abroad – EU’s von der Leyen

BRUSSELS, March 30 (Reuters) - China's targeting of other countries to ensure they comply with its wishes and its human rights record point to an overall hardening of its posture,…

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EU’s von der Leyen and Macron to visit China together

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel together with French President Emmanuel Macron during his trip to China early next month. Speaking at a press conference following an…

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Von der Leyen in Sicily: European solution on migrants possible

A European solution on migrants is possible, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the university of Palermo Thursday. "We must fight smugglers and traffickers, dialogue with partner…

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Photo Story: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Sicily

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday evening pays homage to judge Giovanni Falcone, his wife Francesca Morvillo and the escort agents murdered by the mafia in 1992,…

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EU Commission President von der Leyen and EP President Metsola pay tribute to Pope Emeritus Benedict

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen paid tribute to Benedict. Von der Leyen said “he had set a strong signal through his resignation” in 2013. “He saw himself first…

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UPDATED: EU leaders head for tussle over rescue plans for industry

BRUSSELS, Dec 15 (Reuters) - European Union leaders will argue on Thursday over how to prop up their countries' industries, which have been whacked by soaring energy prices since the…

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EC chief says G7, NATO behind Ukraine for ‘as long as it takes’

NUSA DUA, Indonesia, Nov 16 (Reuters) - European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday said G7 and NATO representatives at a meeting condemned brutal acts by Russia in…

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EU looks forward to working with UK on Ukraine crisis, climate change, von der Leyen says

(Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she spoke with new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and is looking forward to working on issues such as Russia’s…

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UPDATED: Russian attacks on Ukraine infrastructure are war crimes – EU’s von der Leyen

BRUSSELS, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Russia's missile and drone attacks on power stations and other infrastructure in Ukraine are "acts of pure terror" that amount to war crimes, European Commission…

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EU’s von der Leyen delivers veiled warning to Italy’s right wing

BRUSSELS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has warned Italy of consequences should it veer away from democratic principles, issuing a barely veiled threat ahead…

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Von der Leyen: Supporting Ukraine is costly, but freedom is priceless

KYIV (Reuters) - Supporting Ukraine comes at a high cost, but freedom is "priceless," European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen told Reuters amid soaring inflation and high energy prices…

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Photo Story: The women at the helm

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola (L) welcomes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R) as she arrives at the Conference of Presidents at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium,…

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EU chief plans overhaul of electricity market as prices skyrocket

"Skyrocketing" energy prices expose the limits of the European Union's electricity market design, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday, announcing plans for a structural reform. The market "was developed under…

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EU signs deal with Azerbaijan to double gas imports by 2027

BRUSSELS, July 18 (Reuters) - The European Commission signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday with Azerbaijan to double imports of Azeri natural gas to at least 20 billion cubic metres a year by…

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Photo Story: Czech Presidency of the EU Council starts

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (L) welcomes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (R) prior to College of the European Commission visit on the very first day of the…

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UPDATED: Common commitment to ending Ukraine war say Pope, von der Leyen

A handout picture provided by the Press Office Vatican Media shows Pope Francis (R) receiving in audience European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in Vatican City, 10 June 2022.…

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Pope to receive von der Leyen June 10

Pope Francis will receive European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday June 10 at 10:30, the Vatican press office said Wednesday.The audience will take place in the Apostolic…

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Von der Leyen confident EU will pass new sanctions package

FRANKFURT, May 6 (Reuters) - Eurpoean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday she was confident the bloc would approve a new package of sanctions against Russia. "I am confident…

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EU to sanction Sberbank, other banks

The European Union plans to sanction Russia’s largest lender Sberbank and other Russian financial firms in its next round of restrictions, European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen told a…

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Russia’s actions appear to be war crimes, EU’s von der Leyen says

MEDYKA, Poland, April 9 (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday that Russian forces appeared to have committed war crimes by targeting civilians in Ukraine,…

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Ukraine expects to be granted EU candidate country status in June

A Ukrainian government minister said she expects Ukraine to be granted EU candidate country status in June. Olga Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, said her…

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EU offers speedy start for Ukraine membership, resuming diplomatic presence in Kyiv

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said the civilian deaths in the Ukrainian town of Bucha showed the "cruel face" of Russia's army and pledged to try to speed…

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How war in Ukraine ends matters, says EU foreign policy chief

BRUSSELS, April 6 (Reuters) - The European Union wants the war in Ukraine to end as soon as possible, but how that happens is important too, its chief diplomat said on Wednesday,…

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UPDATED: EU will put more sanctions on Russia – Commission head

BRUSSELS, April 6 (Reuters) - The European Union will put more sanctions against Russia on top of the latest package announced on Tuesday, likely including measures against imports of Russian oil, the…

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UPDATED: EU urges China at summit not to help Russia in Ukraine war

BRUSSELS/BEIJING, April 1 (Reuters) - EU and Chinese leaders met for their first summit in two years on Friday with Brussels pressing Beijing for assurances that it will neither supply Russia with…

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UPDATED: Biden seals LNG deal to help EU face energy crunch amid ‘Russia’s brutal war’

BRUSSELS, March 25 (Reuters) - The United States will supply the European Union with more liquefied natural gas (LNG) to help curb its reliance on Russian fossil fuels, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday, as EU leaders met to deal with…

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UPDATED: EU too dependent on Russian oil and gas to cut it off tomorrow -Dutch PM

AMSTERDAM, March 21 (Reuters) - EU countries still largely depend on Russian oil and gas for their energy supply and can't simply cut themselves off on short notice, Dutch Prime Minister Mark…

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UPDATED: Ukraine president says he expects progress on EU membership bid within months

LVIV, Ukraine March 18 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he spoke with the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Friday and Ukraine expects progress to be…

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UPDATED: Germany’s Scholz, France’s Macron demand Ukraine ceasefire in call with Russia’s Putin

UPDATE - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict during a 75-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin…

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EU to ban steel imports from Russia, luxury goods exports to Moscow

The European Union will suspend Moscow's privileged trade and economic treatment, crack down on its use of crypto-assets and ban exports to Russia of EU luxury goods and imports of…

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UPDATED: EU leaders to offer stronger bonds, deeper partnership to Ukraine -draft

VERSAILLES, France, March 10 (Reuters) - European Union leaders will offer to strengthen the bloc's bonds with Ukraine and deepen its partnership as the European Commission assesses if Kyiv is ready to…

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‘Can’t keep offering olive branch’ to Russia – European Council President Charles Michel

Western allies can’t keep offering an olive branch while Russia continues to dial up tensions along the Ukrainian border, European Council President Charles Michel said. “The big question remains: does…

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Updated: EU leaders won’t discuss Russia sanctions over Ukraine Thursday

BRUSSELS, Feb 17 (Reuters) - European Union leaders meeting over the crisis in Ukraine on Thursday will not discuss specific new sanctions on Russia as the matter is "divisive", an…

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EU has ‘robust’ Russia sanctions ready if needed over Ukraine – von der Leyen

BERLIN, Feb 4 (Reuters) - The European Union has prepared a "robust and comprehensive" package of sanctions to unleash on Russia if it continues its aggression towards Ukraine, EU Commission…

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EU working on joint response to Russian letter -von der Leyen

HELSINKI, Feb 3 (Reuters) - The European Union is working on a joint response to a letter many of its member countries received from Russia earlier this week asking for…

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Nothing is off the table, EU responds to question on halting Nord Stream 2

The gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 could be halted should Russia invade Ukraine, EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen signalled , referring to the not yet operative pipeline meant…

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