20

Sep

CDE Viewpoint – Let’s make change happen – Ursula Von Der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission Throughout history, pandemics have changed the destiny of people.  They make us see the world in a different light and remind…

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18

Sep

Ursula Von der Leyen ‘convinced’ EU and UK can still reach trade deal

The president of the European Commission on Thursday said she was convinced a trade deal with the UK was still possible despite the “distraction” caused by Boris Johnson’s move to…

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16

Sep

UPDATED: EU chief executive unveils blueprint to get Europe back on its feet

The European Union's chief executive on Wednesday painted a sober picture of the bloc grappling with a pandemic and the deepest recession in its history, but laid out ambitious goals…

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16

Sep

Could you imagine Malta without the EU during the pandemic?

EU member states were frozen when the Coronavirus pandemic first hit, European Commission Representation head Elena Grech said. The European Commission was now ensuring that the EU is better prepared…

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31

Aug

EU to contribute €400 million to WHO’s COVAX initiative

The European Commission said it would contribute 400 million euros ($476 million) to an initiative led by the World Health Organization to buy COVID-19 vaccines, but did not clarify whether…

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14

May

Von Der Leyen presents Europe’s roadmap to recovery

While Europe has went through a number of economic slowdowns before the continent never had an economic shutdown like in the last three months. This has presented new challenges which require different…

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02

May

Von der Leyen supports call for international investigation on how the coronavirus pandemic started

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the international community should investigate how the coronavirus pandemic started in order to be better prepared for future outbreaks. In an interview von…

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12

Apr

“Today, the will to get through this together is back” – Von Der Leyen

There was “a great danger” at the start of the coronavirus crisis that the pandemic could “shake the European Union to its core. There was a lack of solidarity, everyone was…

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12

Apr

Von der Leyen threatens Hungary with legal proceedings over new Covid-19 laws

The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen threatened Hungary with legal proceedings over their new laws to slow the spread of coronavirus, in comments published on Sunday. Von der…

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07

Apr

Malta’s President, PM and other world leaders send support messages to Boris Johnson

News of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson being admitted to an intensive care unit drew messages of support from leaders across the world Monday. The UK leader’s symptoms worsened a day…

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05

Apr

EU’s von der Leyen calls for ‘Marshall Plan’ for Europe

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called on EU nations to invest billions in the bloc's budget to avert catastrophic economic consequences from the current coronavirus crisis. "We…

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05

Apr

How our Europe will regain its strength – Together

by Ursula Von Der Leyen  The last few weeks have turned our world upside down. It seems like a lifetime ago that we were going about our everyday business. But…

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03

Apr

Talks underway over possible EU border closure extension

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday that talks were underway among European Union member states over whether or not to extend border closures beyond Easter in…

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28

Mar

Von Der Leyen not excluding any options for EU’s economic recovery

The European Council tasked the Eurogroup to come up with proposals within the next weeks. The Commission will participate in these discussions and stands ready to assist, if supported by…

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27

Mar

Women are shaping history

This is coronavirus month, but it is also Women’s History Month. In March the world celebrates the contributions of women to society’s defining moments. Much of the awareness campaign this…

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26

Mar

Dear Nurses, Doctors, Care Workers; Europe owes you all a debt of gratitude – Ursula Von der Leyen

by European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen  I want to start by thanking all of those who have made this extraordinary session possible in what are truly extraordinary circumstances. It…

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26

Mar

‘Europe is in a fight for its life’ says Ursula Von Der Leyen

European Council President Ursula Von Der Leyen said that Europe was in a 'fight for its life' as the death toll and infection rate of coronavirus rises across the continent.…

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15

Mar

EU-wide export ban for medical protective equipment

Brussels on Sunday imposed an EU-wide export ban for some medical protective equipment in a bid to keep sufficient supplies within the bloc, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen…

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12

Mar

Von der Leyen postpones trip to Greece over coronavirus

  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen postponed a trip to Greece in order to focus on combating the spread of coronavirus. Von der Leyen had been due to…

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11

Mar

“At this moment in Europe we are all Italians” – von Der Leyen

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday published a video message in Italian saying "we are all Italians". "Dear Italians, at this difficult moment, I want to tell…

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10

Mar

Refugee situation in Turkish-Greek border under focus in Brussels

EU leaders warned President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday to respect the terms of a previous deal to keep migrants away from Europe's borders, after the Turkish leader came to…

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09

Mar

Von der Leyen tells Turkey to take migrants back from Greek border

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said ahead of talks with President Tayyip Erdogan that Turkey must move refugees and migrants away from the Greek border. “Finding a solution…

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16

Feb

Von der Leyen and I are ‘like the two popes’ – Juncker

Former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he and his successor, Ursula von der Leyen, were "like the two popes in the Vatican." Politico reports that "on closer consideration, I'm von der…

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28

Jan

Brussels Viewpoint – US president Donald Trump meets Von der Leyen

The big news this week takes us to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, where US President Donald Trump met EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for the first…

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24

Jan

Shaping the Conference on the Future of Europe

The European Commission set out its ideas for shaping the Conference on the Future of Europe, which should be launched on Europe Day, 9 May 2020 and run for two…

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22

Jan

Von der Leyen stresses Europe needs ‘credible military capabilities’

In order to respond to crises, the EU needs "credible military capabilities," the leader of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen said at the World Economic Forum in Davos…

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15

Jan

New criticism for Von der Leyen over second phone

Ursula von der Leyen is facing fresh criticism over the wiping of a second mobile phone that could have been used as evidence in a parliamentary inquiry. The inquiry is…

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10

Jan

European ministers meet to salvage Iran nuclear deal

European foreign ministers are expected to discuss the Iran crisis at an emergency meeting in Brussels on Friday after US President Donald Trump urged allies to “break away” from the…

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08

Jan

Boris Johnson to meet Ursula von der Leyen

Boris Johnson is heading for a showdown with the new president of the European Commission in a clash over post-Brexit trade. The prime minister is meeting Ursula von der Leyen…

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03

Jan

Ursula von der Leyen to meet Boris Johnson

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will meet on Wednesday at 10 Downing Street, the European Commission said Friday. Downing Street confirmed the…

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27

Dec

European subsidies cannot support sectors or technologies harmful to the environment – Von der Leyen

European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen expressed her views on the future of Europe in an interview with the French news outlet Les Echos.  "I feel that a period…

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21

Dec

German politician files criminal complaint against EC President von der Leyen after data from her mobile phone was wiped out

A German politician has filed a criminal complaint over the erasure of data from a mobile phone owned by Ursula von der Leyen, the new European Commission president, when she…

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18

Dec

Photo Story: Ursula von der Leyen at the EP in Strasbourg, warns Brexit will harm UK more than EU

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks with David McAllister, Member of Parliament from the EPP Group, before a debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, 18 December…

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14

Dec

Time frame for post Brexit Trade deal challenging – Von der Leyen

The European Union have welcomed Boris Johnson's thumping general election victory, calling for the Brexit deal to be ratified as soon as possible with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen…

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11

Dec

President von der Leyen on the roadmap for a European Green Deal

Do we, humans, want to continue living well and safely on this planet? Humanity faces an existential threat – the whole world is beginning to see. Forests burn from America…

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08

Dec

First foreign visit for von der Leyen, EU strengthens cooperation with Ethiopia

On the occasion of her first official visit outside Europe, the new President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced in Addis Ababa a significant boost to the…

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05

Dec

Ursula von der Leyen demands ‘thorough and independent’ probe into Daphne Caruana Galizia’s killing

The head of the European Union’s executive arm, Ursula von der Leyen, on Wednesday evening demanded a “thorough and independent” investigation into the 2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.…

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04

Dec

Photo Story: First weekly college meeting of the new European Commission

European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen (C) pose with new EU Commissioners for the official picture during the first weekly college meeting of the new European Commission in Brussels,…

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04

Dec

Putin speaks by phone with von der Leyen

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday and congratulated her on her new position, according to the Kremlin. The two leaders also…

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27

Nov

Photo Story: Family photo for new European Commission

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (C) poses with new members of EU Commission, after the vote of Members of the EU Parliament on her college of commissioners, in…

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27

Nov

Ursula von der Leyen says Europe can shape the global order

European Union Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen has argued that Europe can shape the global order in a speech that put climate change and migration at the heart of…

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27

Nov

MEPs set to approve new EU executive to take office on December 1

MEPs are expected on Wednesday to finally approve a new executive European Commission under the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen after delays and disagreements. Von der Leyen needs a…

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16

Nov

Von Der Leyen’s commission on hold, for now

The new Commission under President-elect Ursula von der Leyen was supposed to start work on November 1st. This didn't happen and it's not clear as yet as when this might…

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10

Nov

von der Leyen defies Macron on the West Balkans accession talks

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission’s incoming president, has come out in support for accession talks with West Balkan countries, in a move defying French president Emmanuel Macron’s fierce…

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09

Nov

Von der Leyen: ‘Europe must learn the language of power’

The European Union needs to take a more active role in global politics if it wants to protect its interests, incoming European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on…

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30

Oct

Romanian leaders’ squabble over Commission pick

Romania's political leaders are at loggerheads over the country's nominee for the next European Commission, with the president accusing the caretaker prime minister of being "irresponsible" for putting someone forward for…

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16

Oct

Macron, Merkel to meet to harmonise positions before EU summit

France's Emmanuel Macron will hold talks Wednesday with Germany's Angela Merkel for the second time in a week to chart a united front on issues ranging from Brexit to Syria…

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13

Oct

Brussels ViewPoint – European Commissioners: is it time for a system overhaul? – Denise Grech

The Brussels ViewPoint is written by Corporate Dispatch correspondent in Brussels, Denise Grech and was first published on The CorporateDispatch Week. There have been some who questioned whether the European Parliament’s committees are qualified enough to…

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11

Oct

Von der Leyen Commission faces delay

After members of the European Parliament on Thursday rejected Ursula von der Leyen's French nominee for the new Commission, casting doubt on her ability to take office as scheduled on…

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09

Oct

Romania’s second proposal for EU commissioner rejected

The European Commission’s president-elect Ursula von der Leyen has rejected Romania’s second proposal for commissioner – Socialist MEP Dan Nica, EC spokesperson Nina Andreeva confirmed to the Romania news station…

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04

Oct

Ursula von der Leyen to live in Brussels office

European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen will live in a room next to her office, within the commission's headquarters in Brussels, her spokesman said on Thursday. Von der Leyen,…

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28

Sep

Polish and Belgian EU Commissioner bid back on track

The European Union's anti-fraud agency said it would not proceed with disciplinary action Friday against Poland's candidate for the European Commission, Janusz Wojciechowski, following an expenses probe. The agency, known as OLAF, said…

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22

Sep

Von der Leyen’s vision for the future: a push forward or a smokescreen? – Denise Grech

Summer is finally drawing to a close and the top bureaucrats from Europe are returning to their home base in Brussels. All eyes are on the whether the European Parliament…

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20

Sep

Von der Leyen facing revolt over commissioner’s ‘Protecting European Way of Life’ title

The Socialists & Democrats group (S&D) wrote on Thursday that the intended portfolio for "Protecting the European Way of Life" smacked of xenophobia and "wrongly linked" migration and security. Tapped for the…

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13

Sep

Photo Story: First Seminar of Nominated European Commissioners

EU Commission President-designate Ursula Von der Leyen (C) poses for a family photo with members of the EU Commission. This was taken during a seminar of the new European Commission…

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11

Sep

Von der Leyen calls for new pact on migration

European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen has called for a "new pact on migration and asylum". She made the call in letters to future commissioners, Vice President with the…

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09

Sep

Ursula von der Leyen to reveal which commissioners get which portfolios on Tuesday

The European Commission's president-elect on Monday signed off on her list of nominees for the next Commission. On Tuesday Von Der Leyen will unveil the line up of the next…

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