Who are the EU's new leaders?

Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president

Ursula von der Leyen (1958) is a German politician from the CDU. Since 2013, she has been the minister of defence of Germany and the first woman in that function. And she is the only minister to have served in all four governments of German chancellor Angela Merkel. From 2005 until 2009 von der Leyen was minister of family affairs and youth, and from 2009 until 2013 minister of labour and social affairs.

Get EU news that matters

Back our independent journalism by becoming a supporting member

Register

Already a member? Login here