Ursula von der Leyen

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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EU to propose microchips law in early February, EU chief says

BRUSSELS, Jan 20 (Reuters) - The European Commission will propose a draft legislation for the regulation of microchips in Early February, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on…

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UPDATED: Europe threatens ‘massive’ sanctions if Russia attacks Ukraine

BERLIN, Jan 20 (Reuters) - The European Union threatened "massive" economic sanctions if Moscow attacks Ukraine, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken rallied allies on Thursday ahead of last-ditch…

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Factbox-Women’s quotas on company boards: The EU’s frontrunners and laggards

(Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is making a new push at boosting women’s representation on company boards, trying to unblock European legislation for a women’s quota…

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EU’s von der Leyen in new push for women’s quota on company boards

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will make a new push at boosting women's representation on companies' boards, trying to unblock legislation for a women's quota which has been…

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EU ready to help on Kazakhstan where it can -Ursula von der Leyen

PARIS, Jan 7 (Reuters) - The European Commission offered to help Kazakhstan where it can to resolve the crisis developing in the Central Asian republic which started with protests in…

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EU needs to buy time on Omicron variant – EU’s von der Leyen

RIGA, Nov 28 (Reuters) - The European Union needs to buy time to assess fully the implications of the new Omicron coronavirus variant and to prepare, notably by pushing for…

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EU proposes blacklisting of transport operators involved in facilitating smuggling or trafficking

As part of the European Union's united response to state-sponsored instrumentalisation of people at the EU's external border with Belarus, the Commission and High Representative propose today measures to prevent…

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EU’s von der Leyen says sanctions against Belarus to be widened

The European Union will widen sanctions against Belarus next week, European Commision President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday after a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden that touched…

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Biden and EU’s von der Leyen to talk trade, Balkans, climate at White House

WASHINGTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden will host European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen at the White House on Wednesday to discuss trade and Western Balkans turmoil,…

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Belarus must stop putting people’s lives at risk, von der Leyen says

Yesterday evening, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the following statement on the situation at the border between Poland and Belarus: “Belarus must stop putting people's lives at risk. The instrumentalisation of…

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Von der Leyen calls on global partners to set global standards and support sustainable investment

This morning, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen delivered the opening address at the EU Sustainable Investment Summit, the first annual event on sustainable finance hosted by the European Commission.…

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EU’s von der Leyen: “We must invest in renewables for more stable energy prices”

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday the issue of high energy prices was serious, adding it was paramount that the EU invested in renewables over the…

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EU commission chief wants progress on Serbia’s membership talks

The European Commission moved on Thursday to reassure Serbia of its future European Union membership after an internal document in Brussels showed that EU states could no longer agree to…

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Watch Live – Debate on the State of the Union 2021

Today at 0900h (GMT+2), Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will deliver her State of the European Union address to the European Parliament, which will be followed by a debate…

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EU says no recognition of Taliban, no political talks

BRUSSELS, Aug 21 (Reuters) - The European Union has not recognised the Taliban, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday, nor is it holding political talks with…

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Using spyware against journalists ‘completely unacceptable’ -EU’s von der Leyen

Using spyware against journalists istotally unacceptable, the European Commission chief said on Monday after reports that Israeli spyware was used to hack the smartphones of journalists, government officials and rights…

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EU agenda

See the latest events at the European Parliament, European Commission and European Council for the week ahead Tuesday 6 July - On Tuesday morning, MEPs will discuss with Prime Minister…

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EU Commission approves Italy’s 191.5 bln euro recovery scheme

The European Commission approved on Tuesday Italy's 191.5 billion euro plan, the biggest in the European Union, to recover from the pandemic and transform the economy to become greener and…

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Quoting Irish poet, Biden ends EU trade war in renewal of transatlantic ties

U.S. President Joe Biden ended one front in a Trump-era trade war when he met European Union leaders on Tuesday by agreeing a truce in a transatlantic dispute over aircraft subsidies that has dragged on for 17 years.…

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UPDATED: EU leaders urge unfettered probe into origins of COVID-19

EU leaders on Thursday called for an unfettered investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, first identified in central China, amid criticism of an initial World Health Organization probe.…

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Global leaders adopt agenda to overcome COVID-19 crisis and avoid future pandemics

On Friday 21 May, G20 leaders committed to a series of actions to accelerate the end of the COVID-19 crisis everywhere and better prepare for future pandemics. The Global Health Summit was…

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Commission disburses €14.1 billion under SURE to 12 Member States

The European Commission has today disbursed €14.137 billion to 12 EU Member States in the seventh instalment of financial support under the SURE instrument. As part of today's operations, Belgium…

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Photo Story: Pope Francis receives European Commission President von der Leyen

Pope Francis on Saturday received the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, for a private audience at the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. Von der Leyen also…

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UPDATED: EU vaccination campaign catching up, von der Leyen says, EU looking to summer with optimism

The European COVID-19 vaccination campaign is gaining speed and catching up with that of the United States, EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday. "We aim to…

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UPDATE – Ursula von der Leyen becomes grandmother on Europe and Mother’s Day

The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Instagram that she became a grandmother on Sunday. Sunday was Europe day and in several countries in Europe it also…

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EU calls on U.S. and others to export their vaccines

The European Commission called on Friday on the United States and other major COVID-19 vaccine producers to export what they make as the European Union does, rather than talk about…

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UPDATE – EU Presidents condemn Russia’s move – Statement

The President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, and the President of the European Parliament condemned in the strongest possible terms today’s decision of the Russian…

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Ursula von der Leyen meets U.S. President Biden at Leaders Climate Summit

Yesterday, President von der Leyen participated in the Leaders Climate Summit hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden, for Earth Day. Welcoming the U.S. back to the fight against climate change, the President…

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European Commission head Von der Leyen welcomes Portugal’s economic recovery plan

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday welcomed the first official submission of an economic recovery and resilience plan by Portugal. "Economic recovery must go hand in hand…

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EU’s Michel says he’s sleeping badly after sofa gaffe in Turkey

BERLIN (Reuters) - European Council President Charles Michel is suffering from bad nights due to his embarrassment over a seating arrangement incident at a meeting in Ankara this week, he told German newspaper…

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EU president calls for reciprocity on vaccine exports

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for a greater openness and reciprocity on vaccine exports, speaking in a newspaper interview about an ongoing row with Britain and the…

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EU expects 100 million vaccines per month from April

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that she expects many more vaccines to arrive in the EU in April. "From April onwards, the quantities could double again according to…

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EU’s von der Leyen tells frivilous Europeans: ‘I’d take AstraZeneca vaccine’

The European Union’s most senior administrator said she would happily receive AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine as officials rushed to find ways of ensuring doses refused by skittish Germans did not go…

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UPDATED – EU not where it wants to be in vaccine fight – EU’s von der Leyen

BRUSSELS, Feb 10 (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged failings on Wednesday in the EU's approval and rollout of vaccines against COVID-19, and said the bloc…

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Vaccine doses not enough, and road ahead is bumpy – Von Der Leyen

Euronews / POLITICO - The EU will have access to around 400 million COVID-19 vaccine doses by the end of June, Ursula von der Leyen has told MEPs. The European…

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Von Der Leyen says Astrazeneca will deliver 9 million more vaccine doses – UPDATE

Jan 31 (Reuters) - AstraZeneca will deliver nine million more doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to the European Union in the first quarter of this year, making a total of…

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UPDATED: Von der Leyen says progress on Brexit issues, next days critical

The EU's chief executive said on Wednesday she could not say if there would be a trade deal with Britain but there had been progress and the next few days…

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Calls for solidarity and responsibility in a system that manages migration in the long term and which is fully grounded in European values

On Thursday, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, gave a keynote speech at the Interparliamentary Conference on Migration and Asylum, hosted by the President of the European…

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Supply of potential COVID-19 vaccines to start in earnest in April – EU’s von der Leyen

The delivery of potential COVID-19 vaccines to European Union countries could begin in earnest in April, the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday. "The…

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EU’s von der Leyen self-isolating after contact with COVID-19 case

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday she would self-isolate until Tuesday after attending a meeting with someone who tested positive. "I've been informed that I participated…

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