Ursula von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen is a German politician who has served as the President of the European Commission since 2019. Born in Brussels in 1958, she began her career as a physician before entering German politics. She held several high-ranking government roles in Germany, serving as a federal minister for family affairs, labour, and defence under Chancellor Angela Merkel. In 2019, she was chosen to lead the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, becoming the first woman to hold that office. In July 2024, she was re-elected by the European Parliament to serve a second five-year term, which runs until 2029. In her role, she sets the policy agenda for the EU, manages the development of new laws, and represents the European Commission on the global stage. Her current work focuses on themes such as climate change, European security, economic competitiveness, and digital transformation.