About: Ursula von der Leyen
EU leaders offer words, funds to disillusioned Western Balkans
EU leaders failed to make any further tangible commitment to enlargement on Wednesday (6 October), and instead promised once again "the European perspective" and broader economic support to the increasingly disillusioned Western Balkans, in the hope of keeping the region on its European path.
EU leaders to discuss strategic gas reserve at summit: von der Leyen
European Union leaders will discuss later in October the idea of setting up an EU strategic gas reserve and the decoupling of electricity prices from gas prices, the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday (5 October).
EU no longer agrees on Balkan membership guarantee, diplomats say
The European Union, fearing a political backlash in member states, can no longer agree to give a guarantee of future membership to the six Balkan countries once promised a place in the club, according to four diplomats and an internal...
MEP Freund: Von der Leyen, EPP still shielding Bulgaria’s ex-PM Borissov
In an exclusive interview, MEP Daniel Freund tells about his recent visit to Bulgaria, revealing the frustrations of the caretaker government which did not receive support from the EU Commission in its efforts to tackle money-laundering.
Portuguese MEPs critical of von der Leyen’s state of the union speech
Portuguese MEPs were sharply divided in their appreciation of the state of the Union speech presented on Wednesday by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in the European Parliament. EURACTIV's partner Lusa reports.
#SOTEU: Key issues from von der Leyen’s annual speech
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her annual state of the union address in the European Parliament on Wednesday, praising the EU’s efforts in dealing with the pandemic and economic recovery, but also calling for more efforts to achieve strategic autonomy, climate goals and a coherent European defence.
Von der Leyen announces €50 billion health mission to strengthen EU health union
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced a €50 billion investment to strengthen the European health union in her annual State of the Union speech in efforts to concrete the EU as a world leader on health.
Von der Leyen rides two horses on EU defence
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a pitch on Wednesday (15 September) for stronger European defence, saying the bloc needs to boost its own military capacity but fell short of setting out clear proposals, particularly on how this...
#SOTEU: The nitty-gritty of von der Leyen’s message for Europe
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her state of the union address in the European Parliament on Wednesday (15 September), praising the EU's efforts in dealing with the pandemic and economic recovery. She stressed the importance of working on Europe's strategic economy, a stronger health union, defence, and the green and digital transition.
Von der Leyen set to defend COVID strategy in State of the EU speech
European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, is expected to tout the success of the institution’s vaccine strategy and the Covid certificate in her State of the EU speech on 15 September, in which Europe’s global status and role will have increased prominence following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
70% of adults in the EU fully vaccinated against COVID
More than 256 million adults in the EU are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as the rate among the adult population reached 70% on Tuesday (31 August), which the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen called “a great achievement".
EU hits 70% first COVID-19 jab target but doubts enough to beat Delta
The EU on Tuesday (27 July) said it had reached its target of giving 70% of adults at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, though with only 57% of adults fully jabbed, the WHO says Europe is still “far from out of the woods” when it comes to ending the pandemic.
MEP: Diversity is ‘severely missing’ in European Parliament
Members of the European Parliament are directly elected by citizens to represent them and accordingly should reflect European society, an MEP from the Parliament’s Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup (ARDI) told EURACTIV.
Von der Leyen rejects UK bid to reopen Irish protocol
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday (22 July) insisted that the EU would not reopen the controversial Northern Ireland protocol, a key part of the Brexit agreement with the UK, just a day after Boris Johnson’s published a paper setting out its plans to renegotiate it.
Green package unleashes criticism against von der Leyen inside the college
Some EU Commissioners expressed concerns on Wednesday (14 July) about the landmark ‘Fit for 55’ climate legislation package and criticised the way the massive initiative to transform the European economy was handled by the Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, various officials told EURACTIV.com.
EU warns Hungary to fix anti-LGBTQ law or face action
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday (7 July) warned Hungary to reverse course on its controversial LGBTQ law, as pressure mounts on Brussels to cut EU funding to Budapest.
Von der Leyen says flow of illegal migrants from Belarus ‘politically motivated’
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday (2 July) pledged support for Lithuania, which is experiencing a quickly growing flow of Middle East migrants though its 679-kilometre border with Belarus.
Planned EU carbon market reform is ‘politically suicidal’, warns French MEP
Plans to extend the EU's carbon market to transport and buildings would be "politically suicidal" and risk triggering social unrest similar to the 2018 Yellow Vests movement in France, warned French MEP Pascal Canfin last week. EURACTIV France reports.
German recovery plan looks greener than it is, critics say
Germany was lauded for supporting green spending criteria in the EU’s €750 billion pandemic recovery plan, but critics now say Berlin’s national recovery programme may look greener than it is.OpinionPromoted content
Large-scale deployment of geothermal needs good regulation
GA Drilling CEO talks to Ursula von der Leyen about geothermal The decision of the President of the European Commission to personally deliver the Commission’s assessment of the national recovery and resilience plans to all EU Member States is more...
Lagging German regions may lose out due to rush of EU pandemic recovery money
Following European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Berlin on Tuesday (22 June), where she delivered the approved German recovery plan, concerns are emerging that the new pot of money may crowd out funding for weak regions and thwart their efforts to catch up with wealthy areas.
EU Commission approves COVID-19 recovery fund for Spain, Portugal
Brussels has approved the coronavirus recovery funds for Spain and Portugal during a visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to the two countries. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.
EU-US aircraft deal heralds new trade cooperation in Biden era
The first summit between the EU and US President Joe Biden concluded on Tuesday (15 June) with a deal on a five-year suspension of tariffs in the longstanding Airbus-Boeing dispute, paving the way for stronger cooperation against the challenges posed by China’s economic model.