Ursula von der Leyen
President of the European Commission since 2019
Photo: European People's Party, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
- 40m ago
EU disburses €2.86 billion to Ukraine for drones, missiles and air defence
The European Commission paid the sum from its €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan on Wednesday, 14 October, as Kyiv prepares for a fourth winter of war. A further €168.2 million went to missile and drone producers in the EU.
- 8h ago
EU proposes one-year delay to methane rules for oil, gas and coal imports
The European Commission wants importers of oil, gas and coal to meet EU methane monitoring duties in early 2028 instead of from January 2027. Parliament and member states must now negotiate the proposal, which cites pressure on energy supply and prices.
- yesterday
EU opens two accession clusters with Ukraine and Moldova, bringing both closer to membership
The step came a day after all 27 member states approved it, and a few hours after Ukraine adopted a minority-education law that Hungary had demanded in return for lifting its veto.
- yesterday
Wadephul says Russia targets all of Europe as Tusk urges tougher sanctions
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul told the Warsaw Security Forum that Europe must tighten cooperation after a drone attack plot at Leipzig airport. Donald Tusk, after meeting Lithuania's prime minister, argued that the EU should strengthen Russia sanctions rather than weaken them.
- yesterday
Von der Leyen urges swift returns of Ceuta migrants to Morocco before EU summit
Ursula von der Leyen wrote to EU leaders on 13 October 2026 urging faster returns of migrants who entered Ceuta irregularly in July and continued cooperation with Morocco. Spain's decree to speed those returns is still pending in Madrid ahead of the general election on 29 November.
- 2d ago
Drones hit two ships off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, one sinks, Radev says
The Malta-flagged Chelsea 3, Ukrainian-owned, was hit by three drones about 18 nautical miles off Bulgaria's coast, and a second vessel sank in the same area, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said on Tuesday, 13 October. All 15 crew of the Chelsea 3 were rescued.
- 4d ago
Turkey bans social media for under-15s from 1 November, citing child safety
The ban was published in the official gazette and takes effect on 1 November, after parliament adopted the law in April. Platforms must introduce age verification, and the rule joins a growing set of age limits in Europe and beyond.
- 4d ago
Irish presidency proposes 8% cut to Commission's 2028-2034 EU budget plan
The revised framework totals 1.62 trillion euros and saves 141 billion euros against the Commission's initial proposal, with cohesion and agriculture taking the smallest reduction. The Commission criticised the cuts, and Portugal's prime minister said his country is not in a position to be optimistic.
- 5d ago
Czarnek praises Nowacka's school phone ban amid knife attacks in Polish schools
PiS vice-president Przemysław Czarnek backed limits on children's social media use and praised the education ministry's school phone ban. His comments came days after knife attacks at schools in Ostrołęka and Leszczydół-Nowiny in Mazovia.
- 5d ago
Canada to launch new alliance with EU at Montreal summit on 29-30 October
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa will attend the Montreal summit, where Canada begins what he called a transformative alliance with the European Union. He spoke after Elon Musk backed separatist movements in Quebec and Alberta and the secession of Saskatchewan.
- 6d ago
Pierrakakis urges EU to shield citizens from energy shock without undermining fiscal credibility
Eurogroup president Kyriakos Pierrakakis described a difficult balance for the eurozone after energy prices returned to high levels, as Greece and Italy requested more fiscal flexibility. Several finance ministers pushed back at the Luxembourg meeting.
- 6d ago
Jared Kushner and Kirill Dmitriev discuss bringing US investor into Nord Stream
US Special Envoy Jared Kushner and Kremlin adviser Kirill Dmitriev held talks exploring a role for American investors in the Nord Stream gas pipelines, drawing swift opposition from Germany and Poland.
- Oct 7
Kyriakos Mitsotakis urges EU action on energy prices and migration at Split MED9 summit
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called for European Union support on energy costs and backed a crisis mechanism for migration during the MED9 summit in Split, Croatia, on Wednesday.
- Oct 7
Meloni evaluates fuel excise relief and seeks EU budget flexibility at Med9 summit
At the Med9 summit in Split, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Rome is evaluating up to 170 million euros in mobile fuel excise cuts while seeking European Union fiscal flexibility for inflation-driven budget costs.
- Oct 7
EU plans broad levy on large firms exceeding €100M to capture Big Tech
The European Commission is preparing a lump-sum tax on corporations with annual revenues over €100 million, aiming to raise EU budget funds and tax US tech giants without triggering trade retaliation.
- Oct 7
EU prepares crisis response plans for potential mass-casualty Russian hybrid attacks
EU ambassadors are drafting contingency measures, including civilian deployment teams and emergency funding, to prepare for potential mass-casualty Russian sabotage operations across Europe.
- Oct 7
Germany and France agree to lower EU 2035 car emissions reduction target to 80%
Berlin and Paris agreed on a joint proposal allowing more combustion vehicles after 2035 in exchange for stricter Made in EU subsidy rules.
- Oct 6
Mitsotakis unveils €95 million electricity subsidy for Greek industry
Speaking at the SEV General Assembly, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced direct electricity subsidies for manufacturing sectors and noted rapid public debt reduction.
- Oct 6
Von der Leyen defends 1.26% EU budget plan as Germany demands spending cuts
Speaking in Strasbourg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged EU leaders not to cut the 2028–2034 budget, resisting German pressure to slash spending across defense, AI, and cohesion programs.
- Oct 6
EU proposes one-year delay on methane import rules to curb energy costs
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that foreign gas exporters will receive an additional year to comply with EU methane emission standards, pushing back the January 2027 deadline.
