Latest Ursula Von Der Leyen News
European vote could tip the balance on Meloni's far-right agenda in Italy
MILAN (AP) — While Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni adopts a reassuring Western-allied foreign policy, cultural wars at home are preserving her far-right credentials heading into a European Parliamentary election, where her neo-fascist-rooted Brothers of Italy party is projected to secure...
What's at stake in the European Parliament election next month
BRUSSELS (AP) — Around 400 million European Union citizens go to the polls next month to elect members of the European Parliament, or MEPs, in one of the biggest global democratic events. Far-right parties are seeking to gain more power amid a rise in the cost of living and...
German Chancellor Scholz warns next European Commission president against courting far-right support
BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz waded into the European election campaign on Friday by warning that the next president of the European Commission should not seek support from far-right parties hoping to make big gains in next month’s vote. Left-leaning parties across...
North Macedonia's new president reignites a spat with Greece at her inauguration ceremony
SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova was sworn as the first female president of North Macedonia on Sunday and immediately reignited a diplomatic spat with neighboring Greece. At the ceremony in the country’s parliament, Siljanovska-Davkova referred to her...
The EU's executive decides to end legal standoff with Poland over democracy concerns
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union's executive decided on Monday to end its 6-year dispute with member state Poland, saying Prime Minister Donald Tusk has initiated the necessary changes to reverse what the bloc called the previous government’s backsliding on democratic principles. ...
As China's Xi Jinping visits Europe, Ukraine, trade and investment are likely to top the agenda
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Ukraine, trade and investment are expected to dominate Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s first trip to Europe in five years, as the Asian giant rebuilds its foreign relations after a prolonged absence during the Covid-19 pandemic. Xi will start the tour in Paris...
EU announces 1 billion euros in aid for Lebanon amid a surge in irregular migration
BEIRUT (AP) — The European Union announced Thursday an aid package for Lebanon of 1 billion euros — about $1.06 billion — much of which will go to boost border control to halt the flow of asylum seekers and migrants from the small, crisis-wracked country across the Mediterranean Sea to Cyprus...
European Union official von der Leyen visits the Finland-Russia border to assess security situation
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — The head of the European Union's executive branch said Friday that Finland's decision to close its border crossings with Russia over a surge in migrants is a security matter for the whole 27-member bloc to consider. European Commission President Ursula...
Romania and Bulgaria partially join Europe’s Schengen travel zone, but checks at land borders remain
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Romania and Bulgaria partially joined Europe’s ID-check-free travel zone on Sunday, marking a new step in the two countries’ integration with the European Union. After years of negotiations to join the Schengen area, there is now free access for...
The EU plans to fast-track some financial aid to Egypt. The usual funding safeguards will not apply
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union intends to fast-track some of its aid money to Egypt using an urgent funding procedure that bypasses parliamentary oversight and other safeguards, according to the president of the bloc’s executive branch. The 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion)...
