brussels bureau EU moves to stop 'ghost flights' amid coronavirus turbulence Coronavirus has already caused Flybe to collapse and Norwegian Airlines to cancel 3,000 flights. 10/03/2020
Good Morning Europe Erdogan demands EU chiefs in Brussels support Turkey 'without delay' The migrant crisis on Europe's doorstep is no closer to resolution. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met with the EU's top officials to demand more support for his country 'without any further delay'. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the meeting had been 'constructive'. 10/03/2020
brussels bureau Von der Leyen meets robots ahead of AI strategy announcement The president of the European Commission visited the center for the artificial intelligence of the Flemish University in Brussels, where around 200 people work on projects partly financed by the EU. 18/02/2020
United Kingdom EU chief: UK should be ‘more ambitious over post-Brexit trade The European Commission president addressed the European Parliament’s first post-Brexit session in Strasbourg. 11/02/2020
United Kingdom EU presidents sign UK withdrawal deal ahead of Brexit day Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel have signed the Brexit deal on behalf of the European Commission and European Council, part of the process to ensure a smooth UK exit from the EU next week. 24/01/2020
Switzerland Watch: Von der Leyen vows EU will be 'more assertive' on world stage She said the EU will lead in areas like climate change and data protection in order to become more assertive on the world stage. 22/01/2020
World EU unveils €1 trillion plan to make the bloc carbon neutral by 2050 The EU Commission has set out how it will pay for a transition to a climate neutral economy by 2050. 14/01/2020
Croatia Watch: EU must keep promises to Balkans on enlargement — Von der Leyen "We have to deliver and keep our promises," von der Leyen said — in contrast to France's Macron who opposed opening accession talks until after reforms. 10/01/2020
brussels bureau US-Iran: EU urges de-escalation and commitment to Iran nuclear deal The first weekly meeting this year of the EU's commissioners focusing on the developments in the Middle East. The EU's foreign policy chief still clinging onto the hope that they can keep Iran within the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal known as the JCPOA. 08/01/2020
United Kingdom Best of friends? Von der Leyen warns UK of Brexit 'trade-offs' EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc hopes to be the UK's "best friend" going forward but that "with every choice comes a consequence". 08/01/2020
state of the union Europe - what's in store for 2020? We take a look at the big issues likely to cause headaches in Brussels and across European capitals over the next twelve months. 03/01/2020
World EU chief warns transition period for Brexit might have to be delayed Von der Leyen says she has "serious concerns" about the limited time for negotiations between EU and UK after official leaving date and suggests Johnson reconsider his refusal to extend transition period. 27/12/2019
View Von der Leyen’s new Commission should strengthen scrutiny over rule of law abuses ǀ View Protecting Europe from its autocratic side will be one of the new Commission’s main challenges. During the last decade, we’ve seen multiple examples of EU leaders undermining the checks and balances to preserve human rights and the rule of law against executive overreach. 23/12/2019
View The EU’s Green Deal is ambitious. But its success rides on its most controversial part ǀ View Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the European Green Deal is a reference to the imposition of a border carbon adjustment mechanism (“BCA”) by 2021. 19/12/2019
state of the union Climate commitments and Conservative clarity EU leaders strived to stay on track with climate neutrality goals for 2050, while keeping one eye on the outcome of the UK elections, welcoming the 'clarity' of the results. 13/12/2019
brussels bureau EU leaders agree on climate neutrality by 2050, Poland to go 'at own pace' Discussions focused on funds for eastern European states to transition away from fossil fuels, while keeping nuclear power in the mix, but the deadline is a bit more flexible for one country. 13/12/2019
brussels bureau Can Europe become 'world's first climate-neutral continent'? Among the flagship measures she will outline during a special plenary of the EU parliament in Brussels is a €100bn transition fund to boost green investment. 11/12/2019
state of the union Out with the old, in with the new... Commission President In this week's State of the Union Ursula von der Leyen finally takes the reins from Jean-Claude Juncker, in her first official work week. 06/12/2019
View The EU’s “Green Deal” can’t be business as usual. Tackling the climate crisis must come first ǀ View It’s time to call incremental change, when it comes to tackling our environmental and climate crises, dead. Plastic straw bans won’t cut it anymore – only a full-scale transformation of our economic system will do. 06/12/2019
brussels bureau The Brief: von der Leyen prepares for first foreign trip as Commission President Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced she will take her first foreign trip to Ethiopia. 04/12/2019
brussels bureau Green Deal - the final touches It will be the first big act of the new European Commission. 04/12/2019
View It’s time to revitalise European industry to meet climate challenges ǀ View The cement industry is fully committed to reducing its carbon emissions. We are proud innovators, and so our commitment to environmental efficiency is already apparent at every step of the cement manufacturing process. 04/12/2019
no comment Juncker hands over to Ursula von der Leyen Jean-Claude Juncker gave his successor a symbolic ceremonial bell but joked that it was "absolutely useless." 03/12/2019
World Portrait of Juncker unveiled as he hands over to Von der Leyen "No one has cared for Europe as much as you have," von der Leyen told her predecessor. "Jean-Claude Juncker and Europe will always go together." 03/12/2019
Belgium Watch back: EU leaders mark 10 years since Treaty of Lisbon The new European Commission took power after being delayed one month. 01/12/2019
state of the union Green light for the new Commission team In the State of the Union this week we look at how Ursula von der Leyen won support for the make-up of her new commission by MEPs 29/11/2019
