Ursula von der Leyen

Europe News

Mercosur trade deal hangs in balance as EU enters final stretch

Twenty-five years after negotiations began, the fate of the free trade agreement between Mercosur and the EU is nearing its conclusion, but the struggle between backers and opponents remains tough.

11/12/2025

Europe Today

Europe Today: US ambassador to EU explains Trump’s security strategy

Watch Euronews' new flagship morning programme, Europe Today at 8 am Brussels time. In just 15 minutes, we bring you up to speed on the biggest news of the day.

10/12/2025

Europe News

Doubts grow over reparations loan for Ukraine as final deadline nears

The push to approve the reparations loan for Ukraine has entered the final stretch ahead of an EU leaders' summit on 18 December. Belgium continues to oppose the proposal, while Hungary rejects the Plan B of joint debt. Ursula von der Leyen has warned there are "no easy options".

08/12/2025

Europe News

European Greens declare Ursula von der Leyen`'s EPP enemy number one

At the start of the second day of the Greens' 40th European Congress in Lisbon, the co-chairs of the European Greens accused the EPP of crossing a red line whenever it reaches out to the far right.

06/12/2025

Europe News

With reparations loan for Ukraine, the EU defies both Putin and Trump

The European Union is defying external pressure from Washington and Moscow to get a seat at the table by leveraging the immobilised Russian assets held in its jurisdiction. The move is bold, but carries many questions.

05/12/2025

Europe News

Friedrich Merz to meet Belgian PM to unblock reparations loan

The crisis meeting between the German chancellor and the Belgian premier is aimed at unblocking the reparations loan to Ukraine. It comes as Ursula von der Leyen offered sweeping guarantees to protect Belgium.

04/12/2025

Europe News

Unpacking Ursula von der Leyen's reparations loan to support Ukraine

Liquidity guarantees, legal protection, anti-corruption safeguards, 'Made in Europe' criteria: here's how Ursula von der Leyen intends to overcome the Belgian resistance and approve the reparations loan for Ukraine.

04/12/2025

Europe News

Von der Leyen pushes ahead with reparations loan as Belgium holds firm

Ursula von der Leyen has offered sweeping guarantees for Belgium to agree to an unprecedented reparations loan for Ukraine. Belgian authorities say risks could be fatal. EU leaders will gather on 18 December to make a final decision. If no deal is found, the EU will resort to joint debt.

03/12/2025

Europe News

EU weighs Plan B for Ukraine as Belgium raises bar on reparations loan

Belgian Prime Minister De Wever lashed out at plans for a reparations loan in a strongly worded letter to Ursula von der Leyen, calling it dangerous and wrong. European officials are seriously considering a bridge loan as clock ticks for the December summit. Belgian resistance is seen as entrenched.

29/11/2025

Europe News

Belgian prime minister doubles down on opposition to reparations loan

Hopes to secure a reparations loan for Ukraine have been dashed after the Belgian prime minister blasted the proposal as "fundamentally wrong" and called on the EU to raise fresh debt instead of touching the Russian assets.

28/11/2025

Brussels, My Love?

Podcast| Putin’s long game in Ukraine: Europe’s moment of reckoning

Peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, and a housing emergency that needs critical attention- catch up on the week in EU politics on “Brussels, my love?” the podcast

28/11/2025

Europe Today

Europe Today: 'Russian playbook has not changed,' von der Leyen warns

Tune in to Euronews' new flagship morning programme “Europe Today” at 8 am Brussels time. In just 15 minutes, we get you up to speed on everything happening across the continent.

27/11/2025

Europe News

'Europe must keep pressure on Russia', von der Leyen says

The EU Commission president called on Europeans to step up pressure on Moscow and warned that despite its stated intention to engage in peace talks, "Russia's mindset has not changed".

26/11/2025

Health news

Global Fund faces shortfall as European donors cut contributions

The European Union’s influence and contribution to global health is quietly receding in a broader decline in donations to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

24/11/2025

Europe News

EU demands 'full involvement' to decide sanctions and Russian assets

Europeans insist that any decisions related to economic sanctions against Russia, the immobilised Russian assets and Ukraine's EU accession must be taken with full consent in any peace plan to end the war.

24/11/2025

Economy

European Parliament blocks MEPs' attempt to stall Mercosur deal

A draft resolution opposing the Mercosur trade agreement has been blocked on procedural grounds, sparking parliamentarians' anger and putting the deal’s ratification process off to a tense start.

20/11/2025

Europe News

What we learned from von der Leyen's options paper to support Ukraine

The options paper sent by Ursula von der Leyen to EU leaders presents a binary choice: fresh debt or tap the Russian assets. Euronews breaks down the key elements of her long-awaited document.

18/11/2025

Europe News

Von der Leyen urges EU countries to plug €135 billion gap for Ukraine

Von der Leyen sends a letter to member states calling for a fast agreement on how to fund Ukraine's enormous €135 billion budget hole for next year and 2027. EU leaders will meet for a make-or-break summit in December.

17/11/2025

Europe News

Von der Leyen lays out alternatives to reparations loan for Ukraine

Ursula von der Leyen has outlined a plan B to fund Ukraine should the reparations loan pegged to the Russian assets fail. The loan is still seen as the best option to keep the financing going even if Belgium plays hardball.

13/11/2025

Belgium

Is the EU spy unit coming? Von der Leyen wants her own secret service

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to create an intelligence service using data from member states, aiming to expand its operational use and increase her influence, according to international media reports.

11/11/2025