About: Ursula von der Leyen
Ambassador: EU and South Korea born to be best like-minded partners
Climate change is likely to be a key area to strengthen cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the EU in the coming years, the country's ambassador to Brussels, Yoon Soon-gu, told EURACTIV in an interview about multilateralism, climate cooperation and the EU's Indo-Pacific strategy.
EU eyes letting fully vaccinated tourists into bloc
Europe is looking at easing travel restrictions on foreign tourists as early as next month, if they are fully vaccinated or come from a country with Covid under control, officials said Monday (3 May). The European Commission is recommending EU...
Russia bars EU officials as latest row escalates
Tensions between Russia and the European Union escalated on Friday (30 April) as Moscow barred eight EU officials from entering the country and Brussels warned it could respond in kind.
Von der Leyen says ‘sofagate’ shows need to tackle sexism
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said Monday (26 April) her recent treatment in Turkey, where she was denied a chair at top-level talks, underscores the EU's need to tackle sexism.
Global pledges of help for Covid-stricken India
The European Commission has activated its EU Civil Protection Mechanism and is seeking to send oxygen and medicine to virus-hit India after receiving a request from Delhi. Several Western nations have also pledged help.
Tweets of the Week: Open Bars, Vaccine News, Halloumi
Those Brussels bar terraces better be roomy, the EU vaccine news is a smidgen less gloomy and delivering world peace, all hail Halloumi!
Von der Leyen, Michel seek way forward after ‘sofa-gate’ tensions
EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel held their first talks Monday (12 April) since a diplomatic gaffe in Turkey -- dubbed "sofa-gate" -- laid bare tensions between the bloc's major institutions.
Tweets of the Week: Sofa-gate, Northern Ireland, Eurostar
In Ankara VDL is denied a chair, Northern Ireland violence is hard to bear and Eurostar's failing and the Brits don’t care.
Italy’s Draghi accuses ‘dictator’ Erdogan, Turkey condemns the ‘ugly’ remarks
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi on Thursday (8 April) accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of humiliating European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this week and said it is important to be frank with "dictators", drawing condemnation from Ankara.
‘Sofa-gate’ brings more headaches for the EU
The protocol scandal that overshadowed the EU leaders’ recent visit to Turkey keeps unfolding, raising questions about Council President Charles Michel's reaction, but also about the EU's consistency in asking Ankara to adhere to the Istanbul Convention.
‘Divan-gate’: Brussels angry over von der Leyen Turkey chair snub
The European Commission hit out Wednesday (7 April) at a diplomatic snub that left its head Ursula von der Leyen without a chair as male counterparts sat down at a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
EU chiefs press Erdogan on rights while stressing better ties
The European Union's top two officials on Tuesday (6 April) expressed deep worries about human rights in Turkey while voicing hope for stronger ties in their first meeting in a year with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
MEPs grill Commission about growing expenditure in consultancy firms
A group of 73 MEPs have sent a letter to the European Commission expressing concerns about hundreds of millions of euros spent on consultancy firms and their involvement in policymaking in the wake of an exclusive report by EURACTIV.com.
EU leaders cautiously back vaccine export controls, claim to be world’s main exporter
EU leaders have unanimously endorsed the European Commission's mechanism to authorise the export of vaccine doses outside Europe before shipment, taking credit for being the main world vaccine exporters so far.
UK warns EU vaccine export ban would be ‘counter-productive’
Britain on Sunday (21 March) warned the European Union against halting exports of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccines if the bloc does not receive promised deliveries, saying such a move would be "counter-productive".
EU ‘deeply concerned’ over crackdown on pro-Kurdish party, Turkey rebuffs criticism
Turkey on Thursday (18 March) told foreign countries to keep out of its domestic affairs after Western powers uniformly condemned its bid to shut down the main pro-Kurdish party.
Six things to know about EU certificates meant to save the summer
Although the newly proposed vaccine certificate should not be considered a second passport, the European Commission's tool conceived to ease free movements restrictions - and save the summer season - still raises concerns ranging from discriminatory aspects to its medical validity.
UK accuses EU of brinkmanship over vaccine export threat
British foreign minister Dominic Raab accused the European Commission of brinkmanship over its threat to ban exports of COVID-19 vaccines, calling for Commission head Ursula von der Leyen to explain her comments.
Unthinkable? EU considers getting a vaccine boost from Russia’s Sputnik
Publicly, the European Union has dismissed Russia’s global coronavirus vaccine supply campaign as a propaganda stunt by an undesirable regime. But behind the scenes, the bloc is turning to Moscow’s Sputnik V shot, EU diplomatic and official sources told Reuters.
EU drugs agency says national authorising of Sputnik V is ‘Russian roulette’
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has described as a “Russian roulette” the decision of some EU member states to unilaterally grant market authorisation to Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine at this stage, without prior approval at the EU level.
Paris to bring African vaccine strategy on the table at EU virtual summit
When EU heads of states and government hold an online meeting on Thursday (25 February), they will discuss a proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron to send 13 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to African countries. EURACTIV France reports.
Von der Leyen tells skittish 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 to waste.
Commission takes action to preempt new COVID strains, fast track variant vaccines
The European Commission has launched a new bio-defence preparedness plan designed to bolster Europe’s preparedness against the looming threat of new coronavirus strains, which includes moves to fast-track future variant vaccines.