“The trust you placed in me is confidence you placed in Europe. Your confidence in a united and a strong Europe from east to west, from south to north. Connect with us . News. The nicknames Ursula von der Leyen has acquired over the course of her 29-year career in German politics tell their own story about the new president of the European commission. Switching to study medicine, she later worked as an assistant physician at a women’s clinic in Hanover and graduated as a doctor of medicine in 1991. She forced Merkel to drop her opposition to boardroom quotas for women, even though the policy was later defeated in the Bundestag. News. During her time in charge of the family ministry, she was first called Krippen-Ursel (“crèche Ursel”), a conservative closet feminist set on expanding nursery places, and then Zensursula, a control freak who wanted to shield German youth from the dark sides of the internet. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is reportedly under pressure to resign her post, after a disastrous and shortlived decision to block vaccines traveling to the UK. Latest news, analysis and comment from POLITICO’s editors and guest writers on French politics. “I lived much more than I studied,” she told the weekly Zeit. In-depth reporting, data and actionable intelligence for policy professionals – all in one place. Latest news, analysis and comment on migration in Europe and beyond. News. “I want to move Europe forward in the next five years to a climate-friendly Europe, a climate-friendly Continent, a Europe that serves people,” she said. Von der Leyen adopted the pseudonym Rose Ladson – a combination of her family nickname and the surname of her American great-grandmother – and enrolled at the London School of Economics. She then applauded briefly herself. Ursula von der Leyen: EU commission president cleared in ‘contract scandal’ The German politician has admitted ‘mistakes’ were made by her officials Germany's Ursula von der Leyen has been narrowly elected president of the EU Commission following a secret ballot among MEPs. Ursula von der Leyen has been picked to replace Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the EU Commission when he steps down on November 1. Turkish President Erdogan HUMILIATES EU chief Ursula von der Leyen ****News Topic 360***** EU-Turkey Relations: Erdogan Left Europe Commission President Speechless After Humiliating Snub. The President of the European Union Commission Ursula von der Leyen supports the idea of a common vaccination certificate, which can be established by the EU, and issued by the Member States to every person who gets vaccinated against COVID-19. News. Ursula von der Leyen of Germany won confirmation as the next president of the European Commission, becoming the first woman set to assume Europe’s most powerful policy-making post. Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen, the centre-right German defence minister, became the first woman to hold the presidency of the EU Commission following a secret vote among MEPs on July 17. Your confidence in a Europe that is ready to fight for the future rather than fighting against each other. As state premier of Lower Saxony, her father, Ernst Albrecht, became a leading figure of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and a bete noire for the burgeoning Green movement, with whom he clashed over the opening of a nuclear waste depository. Subscribe to our newsletter . President von der Leyen was appointed by national leaders and elected by the European Parliament after she presented her Political Guidelines. Latest news, analysis and comment on defense in Europe and beyond. “She has an incredible amount of energy”, said Daniel Goffart, a political correspondent for the news magazine Focus who co-wrote her biography in 2015. Some EU officials said failing to cross the politically significant threshold of 400 votes signaled that von der Leyen would face an extremely difficult task governing in partnership with a Parliament that is more diverse and divided than at any other point in the EU’s modern history. One of seven children, she was raised in a Christian household that adhered to the traditional model of the West German nuclear family. The Spanish and Portuguese delegations, pressed by Prime Ministers Pedro Sánchez and António Costa, said they would vote in favor. “We were late in granting authorisation. It's only a bit … Johnson And Johnson Vaccine Could Be Approved Today. The Greens group, as well as right-wing and left-wing parties, had previously announced their intention to vote against von der Leyen, and the result suggested they had generally followed through on that pledge. Ursula von der Leyen’s political persuasions, like those of her mentor Angela Merkel, are difficult to classify. Von der Leyen was tested on Thursday with negative results, but had herself tested again on Monday. Ursula von der Leyen was left without a seat at a summit in Ankara on Tuesday after her two male counterparts took the only available chairs, leaving her to perch on a nearby sofa. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a startling speech last week in relation to widespread criticism of how Europe has so far handled the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out. The Telegraph - The EU Commission president was denied a seat next to the Turkish president while her Council counterpart sat at his side EU leaders were left embarrassed when Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen was relegated to a sofa during a meeting with Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Tuesday, … And maybe we also took for granted that the doses ordered would actually arrive on time”, she said. If you do not have a login you can register here. The German conservative got the thumbs up from socialist and liberal lawmakers which, together with the endorsement by her fellow conservatives, gives her a stronger mandate to … As Parliament President David Sassoli announced the tally, von der Leyen briefly placed her hand over her heart and exhaled through pursed lips in a demonstrative display of relief. She smiled, raised an eyebrow and put her hand back on her chest and held it there, as applause erupted in the hemicycle. Von der Leyen, from the center-right European People’s Party, served most recently as German defense minister and is a close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel. “No details, please. EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen | Frederick Florin/AFP via Getty Images, Campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. Among her critics, the 60-year-old Von der Leyen has a reputation as an Einzelgängerin, a lone wolf with an instinct for front page-grabbing interviews and photo ops, but lacking the gift to pass the inner freedom driving her career down to the teams she works with. “If she has a weakness, it is her tendency to excessive stage management,” said Goffart. She attended the European School in Uccle, graduating two years before a certain Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson joined the same establishment. Out of 733 MEPs, 383 voted in favour of Von der Leyen, helping her to secure the 374 votes -- an absolute majority among the EU assembly members. In an interview for Portuguese media, Von der Leyen was asked regarding the proposal of […] The European parliament has narrowly approved Ursula von der Leyen as the next president of the European Commission, replacing Jean-Claude Juncker at the helm of the EU ’s executive. Von Der Leyen Elected As First Female EU Commission President. In a sign of how thin and fragile her mandate appeared, she also immediately faced questions about the possibility that her majority, which included the support of some British MEPs, would effectively evaporate in the event that the U.K. completes its departure from the EU. Latest news, analysis and comment from POLITICO’s editors and guest writers on German politics. Who we are; Our values; Annual report; Where we work; Organisation; What we do ; Being the … STRASBOURG,— Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen secured European parliamentary approval on Tuesday to become the first female European Commission president on a platform of a greener, fairer and rule-based Europe.. And another thing I have kept: the realisation that different cultures can get on together very well.”. Center-right nominee becomes first woman to lead EU. Unlike Germany’s consensus-seeking chancellor, however, she is not afraid to raise hackles and divide opinion to drive through the policies she believes are right. Follow POLITICO’s live blog for the latest news, reaction and analysis after von der Leyen’s election. Aside from the divided European Parliament and her narrow margin of victory, von der Leyen will also be trailed to Brussels by an investigation, still underway in the German parliament, over allegations of mismanagement and misspending at the defense ministry during her tenure. “For me, London was the epitome of modernity: freedom, the joy of life, trying everything. More recently, Von der Leyen grabbed negative headlines over the accusation that her defence ministry had allocated over-inflated contracts worth hundreds of millions of euros to external consultants. Contact us . Thread starter blue velvet; Start date Jul 2, 2019; Prev . 1 … Go to page. The President represents the Commission in European Council meetings, G7 and G20 summits, summits with non-EU countries and major debates in the European Parliament and the Council. For me, coming from the rather monotonous, white Germany, that was fascinating. 6; 7; 8; First Prev 8 of 8 Go to page. There were 327 votes in opposition, 22 abstentions and one vote declared invalid. If Von der Leyen’s approval ratings have recently plummeted, making her the least popular minister in Merkel’s cabinet, it is because her handling of Germany’s notoriously under-funded military at times displayed those same deficiencies. EU top jobs explained: who is coming in and what is their role? “You especially saw that in her bitter and protracted battle to modernise her party’s view on the role of the family.”. In Brussels and Berlin, she will have two stages to manage. Instead of attending CDU summer fetes in rural Lower Saxony, said her biographer Goffart, she preferred to spend weekends at the family home in Beinhorn near Hanover when her children were still young. Only this: in 1978 I immersed myself for one year in this seething, international, colourful city. Von der Leyen, from the center-right European People’s Party, served most recently as German defense minister and is a close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel. Latest news, analysis and comment from POLITICO’s editors and guest writers in Europe. This gave me an inner freedom that I have kept until today. You might like. EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen. Latest news, analysis and comment from POLITICO’s editors and guest writers on the continent. Today at 4:47 PM #85 jpc. News. News. EUROPEAN Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has told MEPs in an address at the European Parliament this morning (February 10) that they were “not where it wanted to be” with regards to vaccine production.-- ADVERTISEMENT --“We were late with the approval. But if her father’s career enabled her international upbringing, it also allowed Von der Leyen to step out from his shadow. We were too optimistic on … EU-Turkey Relations: Erdogan Left Europe Commission President Speechless After Humiliating Snub. From ‘closet feminist’ to bossy career woman, detractors paint conflicting pictures of German politician, Last modified on Wed 17 Jul 2019 16.56 BST. Ursula Von der Leyen New EU Commission President - who voted for her ? European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says she has placed herself in isolation after being in contact with a person infected with coronavirus. We were too optimistic about mass production. 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