The Latest Breaking News from Ursula von der Leyen

EU states expressed ‘incomprehension’ at Tunisia migration pact, says Borrell

Foreign affairs chief in clash with Ursula von der Leyen as he issues broadside against ‘unilateral action’

The Guardian - UK · Sep 18, 2023

EU chief promises ‘action plan’ as Italy sees surge of asylum seekers

EU chief empahsises need for surveillance via sea and land as Italian island of Lampedusa reports record arrivals.

Al Jazeera · Sep 17, 2023

Italian PM warns migration an issue for all of Europe on Lampedusa visit

Far-right Giorgia Meloni says crisis cannot be ‘just resolved within Italian borders’ on visit to island where 8,500 arrived in days

The Guardian - UK · Sep 17, 2023

'If Europe wants long-term security, it needs to enlarge': EU Commissioner Várhelyi

Enlargement of the European Union was one of the priorities outlined by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her State of the Union speech on September 13th, and it is likely to become an ever more pressing issue over the next few years. After the speech, Talking Europe sat…

France 24 · Sep 15, 2023

Decoding the State of the EU speech: Commission chief outlines priorities for key election year

It is time for Europe's September ritual – the State of the Union speech. It has been a highlight of the EU agenda for the last 13 years. Every year, the president of the European Commission sets out his or her priorities to the plenary session of the EU parliament.…

France 24 · Sep 15, 2023

Ukraine recap: Kim Jong-un visits Putin for arms-for-tech talks while Kyiv urges west for longer-range missiles to aid counteroffensive

Vladimir Putin spent a few pleasant hours this week with one of his friends and allies – an increasingly exclusive club these days. Putin met up with North Korea’s supreme leader, Respected Comrade Kim Jong-un, who rode his armoured train 20 hours to the Vostochny space centre in the remote…

The Conversation · Sep 14, 2023

MEPs refused entry to Tunisia two months after signing of migration deal

Trip by foreign affairs committee blocked with no reason given, raising questions about country’s partnership with EU

The Guardian - UK · Sep 14, 2023

The signs that the EU has completely changed its perspective on adding new members since Russia invaded Ukraine

In her annual address on the state of the European Union, Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has given her strongest signal yet of the intention to add Ukraine and other nations as member states. Her speech was the latest sign that Brussels is thinking completely differently about EU enlargement…

The Conversation · Sep 13, 2023

A flotilla of migrant boats from Tunisia overwhelms an Italian island and tests Meloni's policy

A flotilla of flimsy boats, crowded with migrants and launched from Tunisia is overwhelming a tiny Italian island south of Sicily

The Independent UK · Sep 13, 2023

China, Ukraine, green energy: EU chief sets out priorities in state of union speech

In her annual state of the union address, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised to boost Europe's wind industry, extend protections for Ukrainian refugees and investigate whether Chinese-made electric cars have an unfair advantage thanks to state subsidies. The speech was a chance for von der Leyen to…

Radio France Internationale · Sep 13, 2023