About: Ursula von der Leyen
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.
MEPs vow to waive COVID vaccine patents amid Commission’s resistance
The European Parliament endorsed a resolution on Wednesday (9 June) calling for a temporary waiver of COVID-19 vaccine patents, while the Commission remained firm in its opposition to such measures and said it has different plans to speed up the global vaccine rollout.
Von der Leyen: Great progress in fight against COVID-19 must be consolidated
Europe has made great progress in vaccination since the start of May and this is paving the way for societies to reopen safely, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday (25 May), but warned that progress must be consolidated so that we "stay one step ahead of the virus".
Bizarre case fuels concerns of right-wing extremism in the German army
A German soldier who allegedly plotted to attack prominent politicians while posing as a Syrian refugee will go on trial from Thursday (20 May) in a bizarre case fuelling concerns over right-wing extremism.
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.