Now playing Next Europe Decoded Von der Leyen: Too right for the left and too left for the right? Ursula von der Leyen has presided over the most transformative years of the European Union in recent memory. But after weathering a string of extraordinary crises, her ideology might have gotten lost along the way. 13/04/2024
Now playing Next Europe News EU Policy. MEPs vote to rescind von der Leyen’s controversial SME envoy pick Lawmakers called 382-144 to reverse the decision to appoint Markus Pieper in a suspected case of political favouritism. 11/04/2024
Now playing Next Europe Decoded EU Policy. 6 things you should know about von der Leyen's SME envoy scandal The controversial hire of an MEP from EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s own party to a lucrative official post has drawn backlash from lawmakers, activists and her own lieutenants. 10/04/2024
Now playing Next Europe News EU Policy. Commissioner mutiny grows over von der Leyen's controversial hire Four senior lieutenants aren't happy on hearing that fellow CDU member Markus Pieper starts his taxpayer-funded duties next week 09/04/2024
Now playing Next Europe News European defence spending needs to speed up, says Von der Leyen Europe is being targeted both from within and from outside, Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday. 07/04/2024
Now playing Next Europe News Von der Leyen's pick for campaign manager raises eyebrows Ursula von der Leyen has selected her current chief of staff to run her campaign ahead of the elections to the European Parliament. 05/04/2024
Now playing Next Europe News EU Policy. Exclusive: Von der Leyen cronyism row intensifies with NGO call NGOs join lawmakers and senior commission officials in questioning the decision to hand a lucrative official role to a political ally. 05/04/2024
Now playing Next Europe News Von der Leyen's SME Envoy appointment disputed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is embroiled in a row over favouritism, after appointing German MEP Markus Pieper as Envoy for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, a five-year post with a salary of nearly 17,000 euros a month. 05/04/2024
Now playing Next Europe News EU Policy. Exclusive: Commission vanguard turn on von der Leyen envoy pick The controversial decision to hire Germany’s Markus Pieper may need a second look, fellow Commissioners suggest. 03/04/2024
Now playing Next Europe News Von der Leyen’s executive not winning European hearts and minds: Poll The European Commission’s approval rating is deeply split in the EU and alarmingly low in a handful of member states, new polling shows, raising questions over Ursula von der Leyen’s bid for a second term at the executive’s helm. 03/04/2024
Now playing Next Europe Decoded EU Policy. Von der Leyen’s Defence Union dream won’t come easy – or cheap Strengthening Europe's military may be an imperative in the coming years – but EU ambitions face multiple legal, political and financial hurdles. 01/04/2024
Now playing Next Europe Decoded Spitzenkandidaten: Democratic fix or political charade? The 2024 elections to the European Parliament promise to give the Spitzenkandidaten system a new chance. But can the grand project survive its inherent shortcomings and contradictions? 30/03/2024
Now playing Next The Cube No, Ursula von der Leyen’s grandfather was not an SS general The Cube takes a look at claims the European Commission president's grandparents were Nazis and pictured shaking hands with Adolf Hitler. 29/03/2024
Now playing Next Economy How have Europe's economic issues fared on von der Leyen's watch? Ursula von der Leyen is seeking a second term as head of the European Commission. What has her current five-year stint meant for the economy? 28/03/2024
Now playing Next Europe News Strack-Zimmermann weighs in on von der Leyen, Orbán and the far right Her name is Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann and she is one of three lead candidates chosen by the European liberals for the upcoming EU elections. But what does she really think? 27/03/2024
Now playing Next Nature I went on a hunt to discover the truth about Estonia’s wolf culling Hunters killed up to 40% of Estonia’s wolves this winter, a quota challenged in court. How far will Europeans tolerate the wolf in our landscapes? 24/03/2024
Now playing Next Europe News Kyiv may get €1 bn in profits from frozen Russian assets by July - EU Ukraine could receive €1 billion in windfall profits from immobilised Russian assets as soon as this July, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has said. 22/03/2024
Now playing Next world news UN Secretary General meets with European leaders Antonio Guterres has warned that twin crises in Ukraine and Gaza have put the world in an exceptionally dangerous situation. 21/03/2024
Now playing Next Europe Decoded Analysis: The EU's €7.4-billion bet on Egypt comes with high risks After Tunisia and Mauritania, the European Union has found a new "strategic" partner to curb irregular migration: Egypt. 18/03/2024
Now playing Next Europe News EU Parliament sues Commission over release of frozen funds to Hungary The European Parliament has made good on its threat and will file a lawsuit against the European Commission over the release of €10.2 billion in frozen funds to Hungary. 14/03/2024