Also es ist unsere Aufgabe auch, sozusagen diesen Diskurs aufrecht zu erhalten”. Its members had the hereditary office of sénéchal in the Electorate of Trier. Wahlperiode", "EU-Mercosur deal divides both sides of the Atlantic", "Amazon fires spark European rift at G7 over Mercosur trade deal", "We must not barter the Amazon rainforest for burgers and steaks", "Timmermans unhappy with Dombrovskis unexpected 'promotion, "EU post to 'protect European way of life' called 'disgusting,' 'reprehensible, "EU accused of adopting 'fascist rhetoric' with new Commissioner For Protecting Our European Way of Life to oversee immigration policy", "New EU post to protect European Way of Life slammed as 'grotesque, "Juncker criticizes von der Leyen over 'European way of life' commissioner", "EU Parliament Chief Questions 'European Way of Life' Title", "Coronavirus: EU rules out Schengen border closures amid Italy outbreak", "Salvini and Le Pen Don't Have a Coronavirus Cure", "Coronavirus: Europe's open borders threatened by spread of disease", "Coronavirus: European borders likely to remain open despite crisis in Italy, observers say", "Coronavirus Nightmare Could Be the End for Europe's Borderless Dream", "Denmark, Poland and Czechs seal borders over coronavirus", "EU condemns Trump travel ban from Europe as virus spreads", "EU Calls for Sanctions on Belarus After Disputed Elections", "Greek PM: "It is not possible for the EU to adopt a different stance on Belarus and another on Turkey, "Merkel and Macron vow to 'preserve' EU sovereignty in eastern Mediterranean", World Economic Forum Announces New Board of Trustees, Meeting Overview: 2017 World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, WM-Kuratorium unter Vorsitz von Dr. Thomas Bach, "BMFSFJ – Pressemitteilungen – Ursula von der Leyen: "Der Weg zum Ausbau der Kinderbetreuung ist frei, Getarnte Werbung – Die fragwürdigen PR-Kampagnen der Bundesregierung, "Kinderpornografie: Der Traum von der Internetsperrung", "Familienministerium hält an Zahlen zur Verbreitung von Kinderpornographie fest", "Ächtung von Kinderpornografie: Von der Leyen brüskiert Indien mit falscher Anschuldigung", "MDR.de "Von der Leyen gesteht Fehler ein, "Rammstein: "Liebe Ist Für Alle Da" wird verboten", "Merkel faces snub over women board quotas", "Spurred by Global Crises, Germany Weighs a More Muscular Foreign Policy", "German foreign policy: No more shirking", "Ukraine Crisis Limits Merkel's Rapport with Putin", "German defense chief von der Leyen calls for stronger NATO backing in Ukraine crisis", "German Bundeswehr to train Saudi army officers", Opposition parties condemn German defence plan with Saudi Arabia, "Germany to train Saudi soldiers despite Yemen war concerns", "German minister causes controversy after refusing to wear hijab on Saudi visit", Polen empört über von der Leyen-Äußerung bei „Maybrit Illner“, Szef MON reaguje na skandaliczne słowa niemieckiej minister resortu obrony. The president of the EU commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has decided that someone has to take the blame for that, and the hapless Dombrovskis appears to have drawn the short straw. [37][38][39], Ursula von der Leyen joined the CDU in 1990, and became active in local politics in Lower Saxony in 1996, shortly after she had returned to Germany after living in California. Prior to her current position, she served in the cabinet of Germany from 2005 to 2019, holding successive positions in Angela Merkel's cabinet, serving most recently as Federal Minister of Defence. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, centre left, arrives for a debate on the EU approach to Covid-19 vaccinations at the European Parliament in Brussels (Francisco Seco/AP) Although German law no longer acknowledges or recognizes a status for noble houses or their titles per se, the government does allow for titles to be used in lieu of a surname. She served as a deputy leader of the CDU from 2010 to 2019, and has previously been regarded as a leading contender to succeed Merkel as chancellor and as the favourite to become secretary-general of NATO. [169], In 2015, von der Leyen argued that a form of EU army should be a long-term goal. Most of her ancestors were from the former states of Hanover and Bremen in today's northwestern Germany; she has one American great-grandmother of primarily British descent, with more distant French and Italian ancestors, and some ancestors from what are now the Baltic states, then in Imperial Russia. The Albrecht family was among the hübsche ("courtly" or "genteel") families of the Electorate and Kingdom of Hanover—a state that was in a personal union with the United Kingdom—and her ancestors had been doctors, jurists and civil servants since the 17th century. "[107], On 2 July 2019, von der Leyen was proposed by the European Council as their candidate for the office of President of the European Commission. [20] She lives with her family on a farm near Hanover where they keep horses. [60], Former British Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon noted in 2019 that she had been "a star presence" in the NATO community and "the doyenne of NATO ministers for over five years". Von der Leyen als Nato-Generalsekretärin im Gespräch, "Verteidigungsministerin Ursula von der Leyen als Nato-Generalsekretärin im Gespräch", "EU Leaders Tap Germany's Von Der Leyen as Commission Chief", "EU-Kommission: Von der Leyen sagt Krebs den Kampf an", "Commission prepares for von der Leyen transition", "Deutscher Bundestag – Ausgeschiedene Abgeordnete der 19. [112], Von der Leyen supported the proposed European Union–Mercosur free trade agreement,[113] which would form one of the world's largest free trade areas. [65] She later opposed the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. Ambasada "Mamy nadzieję, że to kończy sprawę", Ambasada Niemiec odpowiada Macierewiczowi: Nie kształtujemy polityki w trakcie talk-show, "Endlich haben wir die deutschen Politiker erwischt", Von der Leyen löst Verstimmungen in Polen aus, "Trump and Merkel exchange barbs in showdown over Russia's pipeline", "Ursula von der Leyen: Germany's next chancellor? [30] From 1988 to 1992, she worked as an assistant physician at the Women's Clinic of the Hannover Medical School. On 2 July 2019, von der Leyen was proposed by the European Council as the candidate for President of the European Commission. [78] Plans were also announced to significantly expand the tank fleet to a potential number of 328, order 131 more Boxer armoured personnel carriers, increase the submarine fleet, and to develop a new fighter jet to replace the Tornado. [12][13][14] The Ladson family were large plantation owners and her ancestor James H. Ladson owned over 200 slaves by the time slavery in the United States was abolished; her relatives and ancestors were among the wealthiest in British North America in the 18th century, and she descends from one of the largest British slave traders of the era, Joseph Wragg. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today compared vaccine nationalism to the Cold War space race. He married Louise Dorothea Betty von Knoop (1844–1889), a daughter of Baron Johann Ludwig von Knoop, one of the most successful entrepreneurs of the 19th century Russian Empire. "[173] In an interview with The Guardian days after her election to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as President of the European Commission, she stated that the withdrawal deal agreed between Theresa May and chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier would remain the basis of any future talks. Timmermans has previously been one of the "lead candidates" (German: Spitzenkandidat) for the Commission's presidency. [148] However, child pornography is, in fact, illegal in India, which has much stricter rules about erotic media than Germany. Waszczykowski: Pomruki pruskiego tonu w tonacji "Ody do radości", Attache obrony Niemiec wezwany do MON. [86], Early in her tenure, von der Leyen pledged to get a grip on Germany's military equipment budget after publishing a KPMG report on repeated failures in controlling suppliers, costs and delivery deadlines, e.g., with the Airbus A400M Atlas transport plane, Eurofighter Typhoon jet and the Boxer armoured fighting vehicle. [87], In 2015, von der Leyen publicly criticized Airbus over delays in the delivery of A400M military transport planes, complaining that the company had a serious problem with product quality. She also stated that the EU should extend the Brexit deadline beyond 31 October 2019. Melanie Amann, Dietmar Hipp and Peter Müller (11 June 2013), Minister of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Lower Saxony Minister for Social Affairs, Women, Family and Health, Federal Minister of Family Affairs and Youth, Field Marshal Rommel Barracks, Augustdorf, European Union–Mercosur free trade agreement, World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, Federal Review Board for Media Harmful to Minors, 2016 European Union membership referendum, "Merkel Succession Beckons After Von der Leyen’s Defence Posting", "First woman nominated to lead EU Commission", "EU leaders pick Germany's von der Leyen to lead Commission", "MEPs back von der Leyen as EU Commission head", "Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union – TITLE III: PROVISIONS ON THE INSTITUTIONS – Article 17", "Ursula von der Leyen: The 100 Most Influential People of 2020", "Christine Lagarde and Ursula von der Leyen: meet the EU's next leaders", "Ursula von der Leyen – Biografie WHO'S WHO", "Ursula von der Leyen: Is this the next woman to become Chancellor of", "Der denkmalgeschützte Bau drohte zu verfallen: Altes Knoop-Mausoleum für 90000 Euro restauriert", Register of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of South Carolina, The Prominent Families of the United States of America, "Chi è Ursula von der Leyen, che sarà la nuova presidente della Commissione Europea", "Feisty German minister stands up to Merkel", "Ursula von der Leyen profile: Who is proposed new EU Commission president? She also said that she was convinced about the goal of a combined military force, just as she was convinced that "perhaps not my children, but then my grandchildren will experience a United States of Europe". [156] German opposition parties criticized Germany's defence plan with Saudi Arabia, which has been waging war in Yemen and was condemned for massive human rights violations. A plane was also used to take Mrs von der Leyen, above, David Sassoli, president of the EU Parliament, and Charles Michel, president of the European Council, from the Belgian capital to Paris. [37] Various media outlets also criticized that the decision was nontransparent, not according to established rules and failing to secure high academic standards. The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, has said the EU, after four years, has a ‘friend in the White House’ ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday. [15] She is the niece of the conductor George Alexander Albrecht and a first cousin of the chief conductor of the Dutch National Opera Marc Albrecht. In May 2015, the German government approved an increase in defence spending, at the time 1.3% of GDP, by 6.2% over the following five years, allowing the Ministry of Defense to modernize the army fully. For other topics, see, Karl Kaspar von der Leyen-Hohengeroldseck, Damian Hartard von der Leyen-Hohengeroldseck, Fürst von der Leyen und zu Hohengeroldseck, Location of the von der Leyen possessions, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=House_of_Leyen&oldid=999802013, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 1675–1678 Prince Elector and Archchancellor of the Holy Roman Empire, This page was last edited on 12 January 2021, at 01:20. She questioned whether any effort by the West could match that or, more importantly, achieve the outcome sought by Ukraine and its supporters. [2][3] On 16 July, she won with 383 to 327 votes. [144] The combination of a sensitive topic like child pornography and internet censorship is said to have caused a rising interest in the Pirate Party. [178], Minister of Family Affairs and Youth, 2005–2009, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, 2009–2013, The process for electing the president of the European Commission is described in Article 17(7) of the. Upon completing her doctoral studies, she graduated as a Doctor of Medicine in 1991. Prior to 1660, Hugo Ernst (line Leyen-Adendorf) became Lord of Blieskastel and, in 1657, was created Reichsfreiherr (Imperial baron) von der Leyen. ", "Verteidigungsministerin: Plagiatsjäger nehmen sich von der Leyens Doktorarbeit vor", "German Defense Minister Von der Leyen denies plagiarism | DW", "Ursula von der Leyen: Kritiker bewerten Arbeit als "eindeutiges Plagiat, "Plagiatsaffäre: Von der Leyen darf Doktortitel behalten", "Trotz Plagiaten: Darum darf von der Leyen ihren Doktor behalten", "Von der Leyen und Plagiat: Doktorspiele", "Ursula von der Leyen darf Doktortitel behalten", Who is EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen, "Who is new EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen? BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - JANUARY 21: President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen is talking to media at the end of a video conference meeting of the members of the European Council focused on the Covid-19 pandemic in the Justus Lipsius building, the EU Council headquarter, on January 21, 2021, in Brussels, Belgium. German Klaus Schwab, left, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, WEF, listens to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, displayed on a video screen, during a conference at the Davos Agenda in Cologny near Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Jan. 26, … [155], Von der Leyen has supported close security cooperation with Saudi Arabia. She spent more than a year in hiding in London, where she lived with protection from Scotland Yard under the name Rose Ladson to avoid detection and enrolled at the London School of Economics. [7] Her father Ernst Albrecht worked as one of the first European civil servants from the establishment of the European Commission in 1958, first as chef de cabinet to the European commissioner for competition Hans von der Groeben in the Hallstein Commission, and then as director-general of the Directorate-General for Competition from 1967 to 1970. Annett Meiritz und Philipp Wittrock (4 December 2012). [160] In some Polish media, it was understood that she instigated opposition aimed to overthrow the allegedly anti-democratic and authoritarian PiS government; the statement was branded as scandalous. The European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has said the EU, after four years, has a 'friend in the White House' on the eve of Joe Biden's inauguration on Wednesday. [21] She is a keen equestrian and has been involved in competitive horseriding. International advocacy group Global Citizen has awarded European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen its World Leader Prize 2020 for being at … She later expressed regret for having cited an inaccurate study. [50] In speaking out for increasing the number of childcare nurseries, for the introduction of a women's quota for listed companies' main boards, for gay marriage and a nationwide minimum wage, von der Leyen made enemies among the more traditionalist party members and won admirers on the left. [143], These actions brought her the nickname "Zensursula", a portmanteau word blending the German word for censorship ("Zensur") and her given name ("Ursula"). As a former ruling and mediatized family, it belongs to the Hochadel (high nobility). Home » Ursula von der Leyen News – Germany news: Angela Merkel ally brags Covid handling ‘much better’ than UK | Politics | News To date, the UK has seen more than 3,000,000 cases of the novel virus compared to Germany which has recorded 2,293,524 infections. As a former ruling and mediatized family, it belongs to the Hochadel (high nobility). Dozens of MEPs also called on Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, to resign after being “humiliated” during a diplomatic trip to Moscow. FILE - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks at the end of an EU summit video conference at the European Council headquarters in Brussels, Jan. 21, 2021. These arrangements were extended, to enable a smooth transition, during her period as President-elect, until the new College of Commissioners is confirmed by the European Parliament and takes office in November. [67] By April 2016, under von der Leyen's leadership, the German Federal Armed Forces announced they would commit 65 million Euro to establish a permanent presence at Incirlik Air Base, as part of Germany's commitment to the military intervention against ISIL. ", Hollande, von der Leyen, Europe observe Armistice Day, MoD Siemoniak: EU needs new security strategy, Germany calls for more joint European military initiatives, "EU picks Ursula von der Leyen – who called Brexit 'a burst bubble of hollow promises' – to be first woman to rule Brussels", "Ursula von der Leyen: hard Brexit would be massive blow for both sides", "Next EU Commission chief wants to increase foreign spending", Vater and Vater: Gay Adoption Debate Flusters Conservatives, "Ehe für alle": Niedersachsen-CDU uneins in Berlin, "Germany's defmin to get high Lithuanian state award", High Authority of the Coal and Steel Community, Commission of the Atomic Energy Community, Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, Members of the 17th Bundestag (2009–2013), Members of the 18th Bundestag (2013–2017), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ursula_von_der_Leyen&oldid=1006422507, Christian Democratic Union of Germany politicians, Members of the Bundestag for Lower Saxony, Ministers for children, young people and families, Ministers of the Lower Saxony State Government, Women federal government ministers of Germany, Women ministers of State Governments in Germany, Members of the Bundestag for the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, Articles with dead external links from July 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with German-language sources (de), Articles with dead external links from September 2019, Short description is different from Wikidata, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers, Wikipedia articles with CANTIC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with PLWABN identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 12 February 2021, at 20:25. The news media later reported that Wulff's nomination came as a blow to Merkel, whose choice of Leyen had been blocked by the two parties' more conservative state premiers. "[172] She has described Brexit as "a burst bubble of hollow promises. [157][158] In 2016, von der Leyen caused controversy after she refused to wear a hijab while visiting Saudi Arabia. ", Council of the EU and Ministerial meetings, "Yes, Ursula von der Leyen is an EU federalist, but she knows she can't afford to alienate Britain", German defense ministry orders reforms, inquiry into use of consultants, "German defence minister makes surprise Afghanistan visit", Germany says no rigid deadlines for troops' stay in Afghanistan, "German defense minister tells troops in Afghanistan to prepare for long haul", Erste Deutsch-Türkische Regierungskonsultationen in Berlin, "Kampf gegen IS: Bundeswehr baut "Tornado"-Stützpunkt in der Türkei", Germany, Turkey to finalize deal on Incirlik base work in weeks-spokesman, Ukraine Insists Any Pact With Russia Must Adhere to Terms of September Accord, Top NATO General Warns of Russian Reaction to Arming Ukraine, Germany says Hungary’s use of tear gas is ‘not acceptable’, German parliament approves more soldiers for Mali, Iraq, German army to offer soldiers crèches and flat-screen TVs, After army crèches and cosy barracks, Germany has new idea for troops – shorter working hours, German Defense Ministry sacks general over abuse scandals, "Germany to boost mid-term defense spending", "Germany, Italy may increase submarine fleets", "Germany's Army To Procure 131 New Boxer Armored Personnel carriers", "Germany plans to develop new fighter jet to replace Tornado", "German military to bring back mothballed tanks", "More assertive Germany considers bigger army as Syria vote looms", "In a Reversal, Germany's Military Growth Is Met With Western Relief", "Germany Announces First Military Expansion Since Cold War Amid Cyber Threats, US Pressure", "Germany to Expand Bundeswehr to Almost 200,000 Troops", "Germany's Defense Minister Criticizes Airbus Over New A400M Delays", Germany seeks further 12.7 mln euros from Airbus for A400M delays, German, Dutch militaries agree to deepen cooperation: source. Among her ancestors were Carolina governors John Yeamans, James Moore, Robert Gibbes, Thomas Smith and Joseph Blake, Pennsylvania deputy governor Samuel Carpenter, and the American revolutionary and lieutenant governor of South Carolina James Ladson. Later that month, she told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper that the CDU should consider establishing a formal voting process for choosing future candidates for Chancellor. [45], In 2005, Ursula von der Leyen was appointed Federal Minister of Family Affairs and Youth in the cabinet of Angela Merkel. They also had Adendorf near Bonn, Leiningen on the Hunsrück, the Lordship of Arenfels and St. Ingbert. [68][69][70], At the Munich Security Conference in 2015, von der Leyen publicly defended the German refusal to supply Ukraine with weapons. [43][44] In the negotiations to form a government following the 2005 federal elections, Von der Leyen led the CDU/CSU delegation in the working group on families; her co-chair from the SPD was Renate Schmidt. [29], In 1980, she switched to studying medicine and enrolled at the Hannover Medical School, where she graduated in 1987 and acquired her medical license. [55], In November 2010, von der Leyen was elected (with 85% of the votes) as one of four deputies of CDU chairwoman Angela Merkel, serving alongside Volker Bouffier, Norbert Röttgen and Annette Schavan. Moreover, they have a strong social and economic impact, they disrupt people's lives and business across the borders. Biden inauguration: EU's von der Leyen welcomes 'friend in White House' Close European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the EU is ready for a new start with the US. [150], In 2013, von der Leyen unsuccessfully campaigned for a statutory quota for female participation in the supervisory boards of companies in Germany, requiring company boards to be at least 20% female by 2018, rising to 40% by 2023. In 1971, she relocated to Lehrte in the Hanover region after her father had become CEO of the food company Bahlsen and involved in state politics in Lower Saxony. Will India Purchase German Stealth Submarines? While the … She said that she "lived more than she studied,"[28] and that London was "the epitome of modernity: freedom, the joy of life, trying everything" which "gave me an inner freedom that I have kept until today. "[159], In 2017 von der Leyen noted that "healthy democratic resistance of the younger generation" in Poland must be supported. "[167], In a 2011 interview with Der Spiegel, von der Leyen expressed her preference for "a united states of Europe – run along the lines of the federal states of Switzerland, Germany or the USA" which would capitalize on Europe's size by agreeing on core issues relating to finance, tax and economic politics. On the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel, von der Leyen participated in the first joint cabinet meeting of the governments of Germany and Israel in Jerusalem in March 2008. Ursula von der Leyen was sitting in her converted flat next to her office in the EU's palatial HQ in Berlaymont when the phone started ringing. She met him at a university choir in Göttingen. Stefan Wagstyl (6 October 2014), "Ursula von der Leyen vows to tackle Germany military budget". After graduating as a physician from the Hannover Medical School in 1987, she specialized in women's health. The beleaguered Brussels chief … [79][80][81][82] Germany considered increasing the size of the army,[83] and in May 2016 von der Leyen announced it would spend €130 billion on new equipment by 2030 and add nearly 7,000 soldiers by 2023 in the first German military expansion since the end of the Cold War. [74], In 2014, von der Leyen introduced a €100 million plan to make the Bundeswehr more attractive to recruits, including by offering crèches for soldiers' children, limiting postings to match school term dates, and considerable rises in hardship allowances for difficult postings. "[24] She returned to Germany in 1979 but lived with a security detail at her side for several years. Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen (German pronunciation: [ˈʊʁzula fɔn dəɐ̯ ˈlaɪən] (listen); née Albrecht; born 8 October 1958) is a German politician and physician who has been the president of the European Commission since 1 December 2019. This part of the law, in particular, attracted protest from some German conservatives. Her plan for an EU BARDA is a copycat of the U.S. biodefense research agency, and the New European Bauhaus evokes nostalgia for Weimar creativity. [129], In August 2020, von der Leyen called for sanctions against Belarus after the security services in Minsk reacted violently to sustained street protests triggered by the officially communicated results of the presidential election. [nb 2][117] The proposed structure for the College also saw the "unexpected" promotion of EPP's Valdis Dombrovskis to a role of executive vice-president, up to a number of three executive vice-presidencies, equalling the roles entrusted to Timmermans and Margrethe Vestager. [59] She is the only minister to remain with Merkel since she became chancellor in 2005. [170] In March 2015, she and her counterparts from France and Poland, Jean-Yves Le Drian and Tomasz Siemoniak, revived a meeting format intended to promote co-operation between the three countries in crisis zones by holding their first meeting between the Weimar Triangle defence ministers since 2007. In the family, she has been known since childhood as Röschen, a diminutive of Rose. [154] She also called for more significant NATO backing of the Baltic states amid the Crimean dispute. Andrea Shalal and Tulay Karadeniz (13 June 2016). [161] The Polish Foreign Minister made sarcastic comments about "Prussian tone of the Ode to Joy". The house von der Leyen is an ancient German noble family of princely and historically sovereign rank. [93][94], Von der Leyen was elected as a member of the CDU executive board in December 2014 and received 70.5% of the votes. Ursula von der Leyen was sitting in her converted flat next to her office in the EU's palatial HQ in Berlaymont when the phone started ringing. Following her nomination as a candidate for Commission President, the Commission provided her with a salary, office, and staff in Brussels to facilitate negotiations between the EU institutions as to her election. [1], Von der Leyen chaired the EPP Defence Ministers Meeting, which gathers EPP defence ministers ahead of meetings of the Council of the European Union. The house von der Leyen is an ancient German noble family of princely and historically sovereign rank. [32], In 2015, researchers collaborating at the VroniPlag Wiki reviewed von der Leyen's 1991 doctoral thesis and alleged that 43.5% of the thesis pages contained plagiarism, and in 23 cases citations were used that did not verify claims for which they were given. He declared that von der Leyen tampered with Polish internal affairs, speculated about a German tendency to influence Polish domestic politics, and regretted reportedly increasingly patronizing German stand towards Poland. She attended the European School, Brussels I.[8]. Ursula von der Leyen faced calls to immediately resign this week as MEPs turned on Brussels’ chaotic leadership. Stressing that it was necessary to remain united in Europe over Ukraine, she argued that negotiations with Russia, unlike with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant jihadists, were possible. [22], In 1977, she started studying economics at the University of Göttingen. [90], During a 2015 visit to India, von der Leyen expressed support for a project initiated by the Indian government to build six small German TKMS diesel-electric submarines for a total cost of $11 billion. [77], In 2015, as a result of severe NATO–Russian tensions in Europe, Germany announced a significant increase in defence spending. European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen addresses European lawmakers during a plenary session on the inauguration of the new President of … From 2003 to 2005 she was a minister in the state government of Lower Saxony, serving in the cabinet of Christian Wulff, with responsibility for social affairs, women, family, and health. [36][37], The university decided not to revoke von der Leyen's medical degree. She was a member of the committee on social policy of CDU in Lower Saxony from 1996, and also became active in the association of medical doctors in the CDU party. In 1697 Freiherr Karl Caspar received the county of Hohengeroldseck as a fiefdom from Austria.