Ursula von der Leyen

Von der Leyen staffing turbulence plays into EU elections

A human resource crisis at the Commission comes ahead of a sensitive changing of the guard in Brussels.

Brussels, my love? The new migration pact has few fans

In this edition, we break down the nail-biting vote on the EU migration pact, hear how press freedom in Slovakia is under threat and ask how Ursula von der Leyen is handling the so-called Piepergate..

MEPs vote to rescind von der Leyen’s controversial SME envoy pick

Lawmakers called 382-144 to reverse the decision to appoint Markus Pieper in a suspected case of political favouritism.

Von der Leyen's SME Envoy appointment disputed

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is embroiled in a row over favouritism, after appointing German MEP Markus Pieper as Envoy for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, a five-year post..

Von der Leyen’s Commission not winning most European hearts and minds, polling suggests

The European Commission’s approval rating is deeply split in the EU and alarmingly low in a handful of member states, new polling shows, raising questions over Ursula von der Leyen’s bid for a..

Strack-Zimmermann, liberal lead candidate, shares her take on von der Leyen, Orbán and the far right

Her name is Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann and she is one of three lead candidates chosen by the European liberals for the upcoming EU elections. But what does she really think?

Cyprus-Gaza maritime aid corridor to open this weekend, with EU and US support

The European Union is backing a long-awaited maritime corridor allowing aid to be shipped from Cyprus to the coast of Gaza, European Commission Ursula von der Leyen confirmed during a visit to the port..

Europe's centre-right party clears path for von der Leyen’s re-election, despite some objection

The European People’s Party (EPP) on Thursday confirmed Ursula von der Leyen as its lead candidate for June’s European elections, clearing the path for her second term at the European..

French conservatives blast von der Leyen's 'technocratic drift,' oppose re-election bid

Ahead of the congress of the European People's Party (EPP), the French delegation has come strongly against the re-election bid of Ursula von der Leyen, denouncing her as "the candidate of Mr Macron..

Von der Leyen sets out modest defence strategy as she bids for second term

The new plans won’t see direct weapon purchases, nor offer lavish funding previously promised by officials.

European socialists elect Nicolas Schmit as lead candidate to face off against Ursula von der Leyen

The Party of European Socialists (PES) has elected Nicolas Schmit as its lead candidate for the EU elections amid worries of a far-right surge.

Ukraine is '730 days closer to victory', Zelenskyy says as country marks two years of war

Saturday marks the second anniversary of the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine with several EU leaders including Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen travelling to Kyiv to express..

State of the Union: von der Leyen bid for re-election, sanctions and Rafah crisis

Ursula von der Leyen's bid for re-election, sanctions against Russia and the Rafah crisis are the topics in our weekly round-up of European politics.

Impossible to work with 'Putin's friends' after EU elections, von der Leyen says

Ursula von der Leyen has ruled out working with political parties that are "Putin's friends" if she is re-elected president of the European Commission.

In seeking re-election, Ursula von der Leyen has one real rival: herself

Ursula von der Leyen is often hailed as the most transformational president of the European Commission since Jacques Delors. But could her legacy backfire as she seeks re-election?