Ursula von der Leyen

EU News

Canada aims to become EU's 'associate member' by June 2027: Carney

Mark Carney has set June 2027 as the deadline to make Canada the European Union's first-ever "associate member". The category, which has no precedent, has been fiercely opposed by Germany.

30 October 2026

EU News

EU and Canada to seal broader, deeper alliance in Trump's long shadow

The EU-Canada summit in Montréal will expand cooperation across multiple areas, including trade, investment, supply chains, AI, climate, security and the Arctic, and advance Canada's integration into EU programmes.

30 October 2026

EU News

Is von der Leyen’s ‘associate membership’ for Canada already dead?

The term ‘associate membership’ was dropped from the EU-Canada summit text after German pushback, in a major blow to Commission President von der Leyen. Nonetheless, the two sides are still keen to boost their partnership.

29 October 2026

EU News

EU removes mention of ‘associate membership’ from Canada declaration

The EU has dropped “associate membership” from the draft EU-Canada summit declaration after German objections, replacing it with “ever closer association”.

28 October 2026

EU News

Canada ‘associate membership’ spurs battle of words with EU capitals

Germany, Italy, France and Greece objected to a draft EU-Canada declaration that cites von der Leyen’s ‘associate membership’ offer, as the member states fear legal uncertainty and a precedent for other third countries ahead of the Montreal summit on Thursday and Friday.

27 October 2026

EU News

'Democracy has won': Europe welcomes Lula's surprise victory in Brazil

European leaders have greeted Lula's re-election in Brazil. "Democracy and multilateralism have won in Brazil," Ursula von der Leyen said.

26 October 2026

No Comment

Hungary: 70 years after Soviet crackdown, leaders honour uprising victims

Seventy years after Hungary's 1956 uprising against Soviet rule, Prime Minister Péter Magyar paid tribute to its victims as Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the importance of freedom and democracy.

24 October 2026

World News

Trump suggests renaming Atlantic Ocean the 'American Ocean'

Donald Trump has once again floated renaming one of the oceans bordering the United States, suggesting the Atlantic could become the “American Ocean”.

22 October 2026

Europe Today

Ryanair CEO calls Ursula von der Leyen 'useless'

Ryanair is cutting a million seats from Belgium this winter as Michael O’Leary warns of steep fare rises in 2027 and demands foreign airlines pay their share.

20 October 2026

EU News

Von der Leyen, Costa in Budapest for 1956 anniversary event

Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa will join Hungarian PM Péter Magyar in Budapest on Friday to mark 70 years since the 1956 uprising, signalling a reset in EU-Hungary ties after Viktor Orbán’s years in power.

19 October 2026

Europe News

Sanchez rejects criticism of Spain's migration policy

Spain's prime minister defended the country's record on tackling irregular migration amid criticism of its mass regularisation plan, while Ursula von der Leyen called for full implementation of the EU migration and asylum pact.

16 October 2026

Europe News

EU ends anti-corruption funding curbs on Hungary, freeing €4.2bn

The Council of the EU has ended the 2022 conditionality mechanism imposed on Hungary over corruption risks, releasing €4.2 billion and restoring access to Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe after Péter Magyar’s new government adopted anti-corruption reforms.

13 October 2026

Economy

EU debt could hit €1 trillion by 2027, auditors warn

EU auditors said 3.8% of the bloc's spending last year breached funding rules, warning that borrowing could hit €1 trillion by 2027 and that the next long-term budget risks repeating the flaws of the COVID-era recovery fund, as the Commission defended its controls.

8 October 2026

Europe News

EU Commission throws down the gauntlet on reforming the bloc

The European Commission is proposing fewer commissioners and less unanimity to prepare the EU for 30 or more members. However, EU diplomats say capitals are unlikely to agree.

6 October 2026

EU.XL

What does it mean to be an 'associate member' of the EU?

Ursula von der Leyen proposed an ‘Alliance for the Future’ that could make Canada the EU's first ‘associate member’. But what is an ‘associate member ’, and what does this alliance mean for the EU and Canada? Watch the video!

30 September 2026

Europe News

Why the EU is unlikely to slash its diplomatic delegations

The EU is unlikely to cut its diplomatic delegations despite budget pressure. The network, already being restructured, is vital for smaller member states and European companies.

28 September 2026