How Ursula von der Leyen helped to open the EU door for Ukraine

European commission president Ursula von der Leyen. Picture: REUTERS/JOHANNA GERONs the night train to Kyiv clattered through the darkness, some of Ursula von der Leyen’s team were worried.

European Commission president Von der Leyen has learnt the lessons of past crises when the EU paid a high price for dithering, observed one senior EU official, and is now seizing a moment when taboo after taboo has been cast aside.

With her husband back in her native Germany and her seven children grown up, 63-year-old von der Leyen’s Brussels life revolves around her office at the top of the commission’s headquarters. She sleeps in a converted storage room with no windows just a few feet from her desk, according to a person familiar with her set-up, and she shares information with a small group of fellow Germans led by her head of cabinet, Bjoern Seibert.

When the invasion began in late February, many European officials were saying it would be impossible to shut Moscow out of the SWIFT international payments system. While she’s there though, von der Leyen is taking opportunities to accrue more power to the EU executive — and to herself.

South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Ukraine crisis: EU grants Ukraine candidate status, ‘beginning a long journey together’BRUSSELS, June 23 (Reuters) - European Union leaders on Thursday granted Ukraine the coveted status of official candidate to join their 27-nation club, a bold geopolitical step hailed by Kyiv and the EU itself as a 'historic moment'. So happy for this battered Country that is taking the bullets and the bombs for all of us. They are truly the buffer between us and the most unspeakable evil waiting just over the hill. Complete communist annihilation of everything we know and love.
Source: dailymaverick - 🏆 3. / 84 Read more »

How Ursula von der Leyen helped to open the EU door for UkraineThe decision to make Ukraine an official candidate, alongside Moldova, hints at a more assertive EU
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »

Ukraine war has upped the ante over wasteful EU energy habitsCutting back use is the cheapest way to save on bills and reduced carbon emissions, campaigners say
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »

EU leaders formally grant Ukraine candidate member statusKyiv welcomes ‘historic’ decision to accept Ukraine and Moldova as candidates to join 27-nation bloc I was scammed through Bitcoin couple of months ago, I started hating Bitcoin until I was introduced to Allison_Grillo, and I gave Bitcoin trading another try, I successfully withdrew $35,000 after two weeks of trading, am so grateful Allison_Grillo thank you. If true, then this is senile delinquency in its purest form and equivalent to officially entering the UkraineRussiaWar
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »

Ukraine takes tentative step towards EU membership as Donbas battles reach 'fearsome climax'Though the approval of the Kyiv government's application by EU leaders meeting in Brussels is just the start of what will be a years-long process, it marks a huge geopolitical shift and will anger Russia as it struggles to impose its will on Ukraine. PhalaPhalaFarm
Source: TimesLIVE - 🏆 28. / 59 Read more »

Ukraine war: Ukraine’s Zelensky calls for heavy arms, EU membership as Russia pounds citiesKYIV, June 23 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow's massive air and artillery attacks were aimed at destroying the entire Donbas region and urged Ukraine's allies to accelerate the shipment of heavy weapons to match Russia on the battlefield.
Source: dailymaverick - 🏆 3. / 84 Read more »