Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaking at the 29 January launch of the new Africa initiative launched by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni argued that the destinies and interests of Africa and Europe are more aligned than ever before as she signed a new agreement with the African Investment Bank as part of the €150 billion Global Gateway Africa-Europe investment programme (AC Vol 64 No 2 Grand ambitions little money)...

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is building her campaign for a second term on 'cash for migrant control' deals with Tunisia and Egypt coupled with new laws overhauling the EU's immigration and asylum rules which have been deadlocked since 2015...

A €1 billion fund for projects developing 'green' hydrogen and critical raw materials has just been signed off in Brussels by President Hage Geingob and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen...

Now European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans a similar measure to protect European manufacturers of electric vehicles from what she thinks is susbsidised competition from China...

Open divisions within the European Commission are emerging as President Ursula von der Leyen seeks to offer Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el Sisi a similar deal to her €785 million 'cash for migrant control' pact with Tunisia (AC Vol 64 No 19 Heart of the migration storm)...

In her annual State of the Union speech to the European Parliament on 13 September European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told MEPs that the EU needs 'to show the same unity of purpose towards Africa as we have shown for Ukraine' describing the Sahel as 'of direct concern for Europe – for our security and prosperity'...

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Italian premier Giorgia Meloni and the Netherlands' outgoing premier Mark Rutte brokered a quid pro quo with Tunisia's President Kaïs Saïed in June...