Von der Leyen Commission

The European Commissioner-designate for health and animal welfare, Hungary's Oliver Varhelyi, failed to sail through his vetting in Brussels on Nov. 6, and will have to provide further written details, according to parliamentary sources.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that it is uncertain whether Vladimir Putin will extend congratulations to Donald Trump on his election victory. He emphasized that the United States is considered an enemy country by Russia, both directly and indirectly involved in the conflict against Russia.

Nominees for some of the European Union's top jobs face parliamentary hearings on Monday, as lawmakers start to vet would-be commissioners to oversee Europe-wide policies ranging from agriculture to trade for the next five years.

It is simply impossible to overlook the devastation in Valencia, Spain. Even if you were to try, the rivers of mud, the piles of cars, the rising number of victims, remain etched in your mind. The death toll has passed 200, the highest in any European country in half a century. For now. Because the continent has not managed to prepare itself for the onslaught of the climate crisis.

In response to heightened fears of a Russian assault on an EU state, former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö outlined the urgent need for Europe to bolster its civil and military defense capabilities.

BELGRADE - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Belgrade on Friday her visit to Serbia as part of her fourth trip to the Western Balkans was a very clear sign of her belief in Serbia's EU future.

Von der Leyen was speaking at a joint press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday he hoped Serbia would open Cluster 3 in its EU accession talks by the end of the year, noting that the move would be an important signal of Serbia's progress on the EU path.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is on a two-day working trip to Serbia, visited the HTEC Group on Friday for a presentation of projects financed by IPA funds and the EBRD.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic welcomed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a ceremony outside the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade.

Von der Leyen, who has arrived on a two-day working visit to Serbia, was also greeted by Serbian FM Marko Djuric and Minister for European Integration Tanja Miscevic.

BELGRADE - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be on a working visit to Serbia on Friday and Saturday.

She will be given a ceremonial welcome outside the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade on Friday afternoon and hosted by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.