Ursula von der Leyen

The EU has survived previous crises. But it is not guaranteed to get through the next one, says JOHN KAMPFNER. “All of us are responsible for the crisis, and all of us have a responsibility to resolve it.” “We cannot shoulder this alone in the long term. We need a European solution.” So said Donald […]

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said the bloc’s contracts with AstraZeneca – which produces one of several Covid jabs – contains binding orders and clear delivery quantities. AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot has said the contract was “not a commitment” and that the firm had only agreed to meet demand to its “best effort”. Von der […]

A Spanish MEP is lobbying for the European Union to include the flag of Europe on coronavirus vaccines which are produced in the EU 27 countires. Domènec Ruiz Devesa is campaigning for the blue and gold star logo to feature on the vaccine boxes and delivery vans where the jabs have been produced to promote […]

The European Commission’s president Ursula von der Leyen has said that Donald Trump’s time in the White House may have permanently damaged democracy. Speaking about Trump’s US tariffs, she told the Davos Agenda summit: “A year ago, my bilateral talks revolved primarily around the question: Would the US government impose punitive tariffs on European carmakers? […]

EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said Joe Biden’s inauguration represents a new chapter in transatlantic cooperation, adding that Europe finally “has a friend in the White House”. Von der Leyen said that “after four long years”, Europe could now breath a sigh of relief and begin patching up an alliance that came […]

Negotiations on a UK-European Union Brexit trade deal are continuing amid widespread expectation an agreement is imminent. Talks in Brussels were focused on the details of fishing rights but both sides have indicated a Christmas Eve deal will be announced, bringing an end to months of wrangling just a week before current trading arrangements expire. […]

Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen may have been fighting on opposite sides in the Brexit negotiations but the two leaders have more in common than meets the eye. The European Commission president, 62, went to the same Brussels school as the Prime Minister, 56 – albeit at different times – and both are […]

A top-level Brexit call between prime minister Boris Johnson and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will be held before the end of Christmas Eve. An EU source has confirmed to Reuters that the pair will hold a call on Wednesday or Thursday to discuss the potential for a trade deal. The two spoke […]

Boris Johnson and the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said “substantial progress” had been made on a Brexit trade deal following a phone call on Thursday – but both are still warning there are significant obstacles to overcome. As the clock ticks towards the deadline for an agreement at the end of the […]

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said there is now a “path” to a deal in the post-Brexit trade talks with the UK. She told MEPs that “as things stand I cannot tell you whether there will be a deal or not”, but acknowledged a path way that was “very narrow”. “It is therefore our […]

Former Conservative Party leader William Hague has said that Boris Johnson’s biggest test won’t be over whether or not he secures a Brexit deal – but what happens afterwards. Lord Hague, a Tory grandee, said that Johnson has turned in a strong performance in convincing the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen he is “crazy enough to […]

Sunday’s deadline for Brexit talks has been scrapped, with Boris Johnson agreeing with European Union chiefs to continue negotiations over a trade deal beyond the weekend.  The prime minister spoke to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to extend the deadline for negotiations to continue. In a joint statement they agreed to “go the extra mile” […]

Boris Johnson has warned there is a “strong possibility” the UK will fail to broker a trade agreement with the EU as he told the nation to prepare for no-deal at the end of the Brexit transition period. The prime minister said the current proposals would keep the nation “kind of locked in the EU’s […]

EU leaders have made a last-minute change of plan to this evening’s dinner raising hopes of a new trade deal between the UK and the bloc. It means that first on the agenda in tonight’s dinner between UK and EU officials is discussions around a post-Brexit trade deal. The news was confirmed by Sky News Europe […]

Brexit negotiators have been given four days to reach an agreement following crunch talks between Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen. The prime minister and European Commission president agreed that a “firm decision” about the future of the negotiations should be made by Sunday. Discussions will continue between the UK and EU’s negotiating teams […]

Boris Johnson has arrived for last-ditch talks in Brussels with the European Commission’s top official aimed at breaking the deadlock in trade deal negotiations. The prime minister and Ursula von der Leyen will have dinner with their chief negotiators Michel Barnier and Lord Frost as they race against the clock to secure an agreement. Johnson […]

A former EU diplomat has described Boris Johnson’s last-minute meeting in Brussels as ‘just for show’, claiming the prime minister was adamant about pursuing a no-deal Brexit. Sir Ivan Rogers, the former UK ambassador to the EU, said Johnson had intervened in Brexit talks too late to yield a positive result. Rogers said officials in Brussels believe […]

The European Commission has said no date had yet been fixed for a Brexit meeting in Brussels between prime minister Boris Johnson and president Ursula von der Leyen. Commission spokesman Eric Mamer told reporters in Brussels the call had focused on the “sticking points” in the negotiations but said it was a “very cordial” call. There will […]

Boris Johnson is set to intervene in Brexit talks this week in a final push to clinch a trade deal with the EU. The prime minister is said to be preparing for a call with Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, in a last-minute attempt to secure a Brexit deal. Brussels […]

EU member states could ratify a Brexit deal after the end of the transition period to avoid a no-deal scenario, officials have been told. Brussels is considering allowing any trade pact with the UK to be ratified after the event to avoid the chaos of a no-deal Brexit. European Commission secretary general Ilze Juhansone told officials from the […]

EU president Ursula von der Leyen was forced to abandon a high level summit after 30 minutes after a member of her team tested positive for coronavirus. Von der Leyen was in a room with all 27 EU heads of state before rushing out “as a precaution”. The president had spent time greeting leaders in […]

The government will walk away from Brexit talks with the EU next week if there is not a visible path to a deal. Boris Johnson had previously set a deadline of 15 October to make progress, with high levels talks expected next week, before a top-level meeting between European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen. […]

Nigel Farage has predicted Boris Johnson will get Britain an EU trade deal – it just will not be one Brexiteers want. The Brexit Party leader said he had a “sense” the government would compromise over fishing rights and state aid to bag a deal with the EU before the end of the transition period. MORE: Nigel Farage called a […]

Former Brexit secretary David Davis has claimed the government should “shrug off” the EU threat of legal action over the Internal Market Bill which breaches international law. The Brexiteer told talkRADIO: “I don’t think it’s something we should take terribly seriously. “The first thing to understand is this was going to happen. “If the EU […]

The European Commission has put tackling discrimination at the heart of its mission. That will mean tougher and more frequent clashes with some member states, says Piotr Godzisz. In her first state of the union address as president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen called out hatred and pledged to build “a union […]