About: Ursula von der Leyen
EU Green Deal to tune up car CO2 rules
The European Commission will revise car CO2 standards and move towards zero-emission vehicles in the 2030s, according to the EU’s new Green Deal, unveiled on Wednesday (11 December). Every other mode of transport can expect attention over the next five years too.
Cancer fight requires optimism but also prudence, says top researcher
Any EU policy aimed at eradicating cancer must combine optimism, prudence and the realism of scientific evidence, the new boss of the EU research team on cancer, Walter Ricciardi, told EURACTIV in an interview.
Von der Leyen pledges to back Africa on Ethiopia trip
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen assured Africa of the EU's strong support during a visit to Ethiopia on Saturday (7 December), her first trip outside Europe since assuming her post.
What if the world’s center of gravity had moved to Africa?
As Ursula von der Leyen prepares to make Ethiopia her first overseas visit, MEPs Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Norbert Neuser and Carlos Zorrinho explain why the new Commission president must reach out to Europe's African allies.
SMEs are key to climate protection, says Austrian businesswoman
After having represented the interests of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for four years, Ulrike Rabmer-Koller takes stock, in an interview with EURACTIV Germany, of her successes and discusses her ambitions looking forward in the fight against climate change.
Commissioners assemble: Class of 2019-2024 starts work
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s executive began work on the 1 December. Read here all the details and figures on the self-dubbed “geopolitical Commission”. UPDATED: Lists of cabinet members have now been published. Info below. After a lengthy...
Middleman tells Malta court of plot to kill Daphne Caruana
The self-confessed middleman in the murder of a journalist told a court on Wednesday (4 December) a wealthy Maltese businessman was the brains behind the killing but also implicated people tied to government in the growing scandal.
Von der Leyen criticises Finnish presidency’s EU budget proposal
The new European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, did not mince her words at her first press conference on Wednesday (4 December), criticising a recent proposal of the Finnish EU Presidency for the bloc’s 2021-2027 budget and voicing concern "about the severe cuts in the proposal".
Behind-the-curtain of the EU’s 2050 climate plan, part II
In October 2018, EURACTIV revealed how the European Commission was planning to propose an ambitious new climate plan for 2050. Now the EU is on the cusp of agreeing to implement it. Here is how the pieces line up ahead of crunch talks later in December.
Women are doing better in European politics, but still not well enough
Ursula von der Leyen will be the first woman to chair the European Commission and will do it with the most gender-balanced college ever, but even though the participation of women in politics has improved in the EU, it is still not enough.
Juncker regrets the lead candidate system was not respected in farewell
The outgoing president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, appeared before the press for one last time on Friday (29 November) and said he regretted that the Spitzenkandidaten system that landed him the top job in 2014 was not upheld this time.
New EU chief flags climate policy as Europe’s ‘new growth strategy’
The new President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, cited climate policy as the most pressing issue facing her new executive team, which was officially confirmed by a vote in the European Parliament on Wednesday (27 November).
Parliament backs von der Leyen’s ‘fresh start for Europe’ Commission
The European Parliament gave the green light to Ursula von der Leyen’s college of Commissioners “for a fresh start for Europe” on Wednesday (27 November) with a comfortable 461 votes in favour, 151 against and 89 abstentions. The first woman...
Incoming Commission set to face final approval vote
Brussels' next top official Ursula von der Leyen presents her top team to the European Parliament on Wednesday (27 November), hoping to finally put a difficult transition behind her.
Member states green-light Commission without UK member
EU member states gave its blessing on Monday (25 November) to the new European Commission to start functioning without the UK representative, despite the legal challenges the new executive could face for being unlawfully forged.
Von Der Leyen urged to prioritise single market to counter slowdown
The European economy is undergoing a rapid transition, with digital technology and climate change needs set to transform normal commerce. Is the EU’s single market flexible enough to handle the change?
MEPs ready to fight against member states on EU budget
The European Parliament will not accept a "take it or leave it" agreement on the EU's next long term budget (2021-2027), co-rapporteurs Jan Olbrytch and Margarida Marques have told EURACTIV.
EU faces rift over enlargement policy after French ‘non’
European Union members wrangled over the rules for joining their club on Tuesday (19 November), after France triggered anger by seeking to postpone bids from Albania and North Macedonia. At the 17-18 October summit, EU heads of state and government...
Manfred Weber’s fall from grace: What now for the failed Spitzenkandidat?
Manfred Weber, the former German Spitzenkandidat for the European People's Party (EPP), has been on the defensive ever since his bid for the EU Commission presidency failed after the European elections in May. EURACTIV's partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
‘Dissident’ MEPs admit pressure to approve von der Leyen’s Commission
A failure to pass the von der Leyen commission in Parliament would create a crisis of unprecedented proportions for the European Union. EURACTIV has learned from different sources that a lot of discrete efforts are being deployed to avoid such a scenario.
EU bank brokers late-night deal to phase out fossil fuels
The European Investment Bank (EIB) decided on Thursday (14 November) to end financial support for fossil fuels from 2021, after marathon talks ended in a compromise that has been hailed as “a significant victory” for green policies.
Main EU political groups expected to back France’s new Commissioner pick
The European Parliament will be hearing France's second EU Commissioner candidate, the former CEO of Atos, Thierry Breton. But this time, France has secured the support of the main political groups. EURACTIV France reports.
Von der Leyen locks horns with Macron over EU enlargement
The new European Commission has yet to be approved, but its president-elect has already locked horns with French President Emmanuel Macron over the future of EU enlargement.