Von der Leyen Commission

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised North Macedonia's reform efforts Thursday, but stressed the need for progress on constitutional changes if the country was to make progress with its bid to join the EU.

BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric met with the EU Ambassador to Belgrade Emanuele Giaufret on Wednesday to discuss EU integration in the Western Balkans and an upcoming visit to the region by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

BRUSSELS - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Belgrade on Friday, October 25, for meetings with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and PM Milos Vucevic, European Commission deputy spokesperson Arianna Podesta announced.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the Commission plans to introduce new legislative measures aimed at facilitating the return of illegal migrants. Migration was a key issue during the European leaders' meeting that concluded last night. She noted that currently, only 20% of those not eligible to stay in the EU are being returned to their countries of origin.

Acting Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev shared his thoughts in Brussels regarding European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's proposal to establish centers for illegal migrants outside the European Union's borders. He stated, "This is not a bad idea; we have the first such example with Italy and Albania.

The European Commission will propose during its new term measures to tighten the EU's stance on migration, responding to pressure from governments across the bloc for which irregular arrivals have become a major political and security problem.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged Bulgaria and Romania to complete their journey toward full Schengen membership, emphasizing the importance of eliminating border checks between the two countries.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban described his recent debate in the European Parliament as an "attempt to crucify" the EU and accused European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of trying to remove him from power.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen launched a direct criticism of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during a recent session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. This confrontation occurred during the long-awaited presentation of Hungary's rotating presidency of the Council of the EU.

In the new EU parliament, small but consistent signals of rapprochement between the right and far right are alarming the center left, which sees it as a potential threat to the European Union's stability.