About: Ursula von der Leyen

More responsibility on migration issue needed, says Mogherini

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Thursday (30 August) "there is no consensus on practical solutions" to migration at the moment and urged member states to show more responsibility towards migrants in the Mediterranean.

Merkel eyes German EU Commission chief: report

Chancellor Angela Merkel is focusing on securing the European Commission presidency for a German candidate, rather than backing Bundesbank chief Jens Weidmann to succeed Mario Draghi at the helm of the European Central Bank (ECB), Handelsblatt reported.

Polish-German relations tighten over talk show remarks

During a visit to Ukraine (5 November), Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski expressed his indignation over Germany’s current policy towards Poland, insisting Berlin supports the country's opposition forces.

EU is moving closer together on defence

After the Brexit vote and Trumps election in 2016, the defence union came to the fore of the EU integration plans. The past EU summit showed that progress has obviously been made, writes Steffen Stiehle of EURACTIV Germany.

German army insists country supports NATO defensive action

German army research shows that German citizens would support NATO military action in defence of a fellow alliance member, in stark contrast to another study that said the very opposite.

Merkel backs defence minister in scandal on far-right supporters in military

German Chancellor Angela Merkel fully backs her defence minister over her handling of a scandal about far-right sympathisers in the military, her spokesman said on Wednesday (3 May), after the arrest of an officer suspected of planning a racially motivated attack.

Vice-versa: European defence and German interests

Germany and the EU: How do they cooperate? Where do their approaches conflict and where are their interests aligned? EURACTIV Germany’s Vice-Versa series takes a look at the issue from both a European and federal government perspective.

German troops deploy in Lithuania under NATO banner

Germany and NATO yesterday (7 February) underscored their commitment to beefing up the defence of Eastern Europe's border with Russia as the first of four new battalions under the North Atlantic alliance's banner arrived in Lithuania.

EU tools up for cyber war

As the member states rapidly progress in their own personal cyber arms race, the bloc’s institutions risk being left behind. EURACTIV Germany reports.

From shock to delight: Member state reactions to Trump’s victory

Donald Trump's victory in the US elections took most of the EU countries by surprise. A majority of leaders appeared apprehensive of the consequences, with the exception of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, for whom Trump’s election is “great news” and a proof that “democracy is still alive”. This article will be updated as reactions keep arriving.

German defence minister wants EU military to match NATO

Germany's defence minister said yesterday (7 November) the European Union must modernise its military defence and security to match NATO's drive to beef up its own security forces in the wake of a major Russian build-up.

EU training Libyan coast guard to curb refugee flows

The European Union has begun training the Libyan coast guard as part of efforts to curb the growing influx of irregular migrants from North Africa, EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini said Thursday (27 October).

German defence minister says Berlin is ready to expand military role

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said yesterday (17 October) that Berlin was ready to play a larger military role than in the past in the service of closer European defence cooperation.

France, Germany to table defence plan at Bratislava ministerial meeting

At the informal defence ministerial in Bratislava starting today (27 September) France and Germany will make the case for the EU’s most ambitious defence plan in almost two decades, aiming to persuade sceptical easterners and avoid a showdown with Britain over its military future outside the bloc.

Germany and France seek stronger EU defence after Brexit

Germany and France have outlined plans to deepen European military cooperation, a document showed on Monday (12 September), as Britain's exit from the European Union removes one of the biggest obstacles to stronger EU defence in tandem with NATO.

German minister backs European ‘defence union’

Germany's defence minister called for a European "defence union" on Thursday (8 September) during a visit to the Baltic state of Lithuania, where Berlin is preparing to lead a battle group of about 1,000 troops as a deterrence against neighbouring Russia.

German army starts training refugees

Germany’s defence minister and employment agency, with the help of the country’s armed forces, are trialling a new strategy for getting young refugees onto the labour market. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Germany proposes allowing foreigners to join its army

Germany's defence minister wants to allow its armed forces to recruit nationals from other EU countries to combat a shortfall in personnel. EURACTIV's partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.

Juncker: NATO is not enough, EU needs an army

The European Union needs its own army to face up to Russia and other threats, as well as to restore the bloc's standing around the world, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told a German newspaper yesterday (8 March).

Germany to send troops to Ukraine

Germany plans to deploy Bundeswehr troops in a joint Franco-German mission to support an OSCE-brokered ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, government sources said, with Social Democrats calling for a mandate from the Bundestag and the Left Party condemning the move “for historical reasons”. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Merkel defends decision to arm Iraqi Kurds with German weapons

Speaking to the Bundestag on Monday (1 September), German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended the government's controversial decision to supply Kurds in northern Iraq with arms to aid their fight against the extremist Islamic State (IS). EURACTIV Germany reports.

Germany debates role of Bundestag in approving arms shipments to Iraq

The German government has announced its intention to send weapons to northern Iraq to support the offensive against radical Islamist forces, but the move has sparked debate over the Bundestag's participation in such decisions. EURACTIV Germany reports.

German defence minister backs ‘European armed drone’

Procurement of so-called fighter drones to protect German armed forces remains controversial, but Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen has finally disclosed her plans for the aircraft: The German military should receive drones, she said, but these can only be deployed with parliamentary approval. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Defence minister is Juncker’s favourite for German Commission post

Few women can be found among EU Commissioners, something Jean-Claude Juncker says he will change if he becomes Commission president, amid news that Martin Schulz has given up vying for the post and rumours that Ursula von der Leyen is Juncker’s top choice. EURACTIV Germany reports.