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, Angela Merkel’s longest-serving cabinet member and most recently Germany’s defense minister, is due to take office on November 1, succeeding the outgoing head of the European Union’s executive, Jean-Claude Juncker.
German daily Die Welt reported that the 25-square-meter room was being prepared for living purposes on the 13th floor of the commission’s main Berlaymont building.
Von der Leyen’s spokesman said the move would save money, seeing as security is already high in Berlaymont and there would be no need for additional measures to protect a separate residence. It also means von der Leyen would not have to commute daily on Brussels’ busy roads and lose time in traffic.
Von der Leyen, who has held several government roles in Germany, used to live out of her ministries during the week, spending her free time and weekends with her husband and family when possible in their home near Hanover.
Via DW
