Échanges avant le Sommet UE–Balkans occidentaux avec Emmanuel Macron. L’élargissement est un investissement stratégique pour la stabilité, la prospérité et la sécurité de l’Europe.

Today I met Nuur Mohamud Sheekh, my counterpart as spokesperson to the chairperson of the African Union Commission. This shows the depth of our European-African partnership. All the way to our press services! Thank you for the visit, Nuur.

We strongly condemn today’s strikes by Iran targeting civilian infrastructure in Kuwait and Bahrain. This unacceptable aggression violates both countries’ sovereignty and threatens regional stability. The Commission stands in full solidarity with Kuwait, Bahrain and their people.

Today's press conference on the European Semester with @roxanaminzatu.bsky.social and @valdisdombrovskis.ec.europa.eu starts shortly. Right after that, our press conference on tech sovereignty with @hennavirkkunen.bsky.social and Dan Jørgensen. Stay tuned on EBS ▶️ link.europa.eu/RF3PrX

Congratulations to Robert Abela on your electoral victory. Malta plays a central role in the Mediterranean. A region ever more strategic for Europe’s future. So let’s continue our cooperation.

The remarks by President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu at her press conference with Prime Minister Péter Magyar are now available here: link.europa.eu/9PH3Dh

40 years since the EU flag was raised in front of our headquarters in Brussels for the very first time. Twelve stars. A single market. Four decades of standing together for unity, solidarity, and diversity. The symbol that fosters Europeans’ sense of community. 🇪🇺

Russia’s war of aggression has crossed yet another line. A Russian drone incursion struck a densely populated area in Romania, injuring civilians. On EU territory. We stand in full solidarity with Romania and its people.

Congratulations to the Ukrainian Parliament and President Zelenskyy's team for the swift work to ratify the main documents related to the €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan. This hard work paves the way for the first disbursements in June.

Also on Friday, President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu will welcome Péter Magyar in his first visit to the European Commission since he became Prime Minister of Hungary. They will build on the constructive discussions held by their teams in recent weeks.

On Friday morning, President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu will welcome Professor Alfred Schipke, of the National University of Singapore. He will address the College orientation debate on EU-China relations.

This means we will soon deliver on our part of the EU-US Joint Statement, as promised. I now call on the co-legislators to move swiftly and finalise the process. Together, we can ensure stable, predictable, balanced, and mutually beneficial transatlantic trade.

A deal is a deal, and the EU honours its commitments. I welcome the agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council on reducing tariffs for US industrial exports to the EU.

Congratulations to Péter Magyar on becoming Prime Minister of Hungary. This Europe Day, our hearts are in Budapest. The hope and promise of renewal is a powerful signal in these challenging times. We have important work ahead of us. For Hungary and for Europe, we are moving forward together.

🇪🇺🇪🇺🇪🇺 Feliz Dia da Europa! 🇪🇺🇪🇺🇪🇺 Hoje celebramos a nossa União, tudo o que construímos juntos e o nosso futuro comum. Somos Europa ! 🇪🇺🎉💪

🇪🇺🇪🇺🇪🇺 Happy Europe Day! 🇪🇺🇪🇺🇪🇺 Today we celebrate our Union, everything we have achieved until now and the exciting common future that we are building together. We are Europe. 🇪🇺🎉💪

I had a very good call with President Trump. We discussed the situation in the Middle East and our close coordination with regional partners.

We are leading Europe's transformation and independence. 💪

Free press and free media in a free Union. That’s what we strive for every day.

Today, the EU-Mercosur agreement begins to apply provisionally. The benefits are real and visible as of now. Tariffs start falling. Companies are gaining access to new markets. Investors have the predictability they need.

A very good exchange with Péter Magyar in Brussels today. We discussed the steps necessary to unlock EU funds earmarked for Hungary, that are frozen due to corruption and rule of law concerns.

✍️ Signed. Stronger and more transparent engagement between @ec.europa.eu and @europarl.europa.eu is at the core of our new framework agreement. Because when citizens seek answers from Europe, they look to the European Union as a whole. link.europa.eu/WHHqDW

President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu, President Christodoulides and @president.europarl.europa.eu, have signed the 'One Europe, One Market' Roadmap. These are concrete actions and targets to make the most of our Single Market and strengthen Europe's competitiveness. Roadmap ➡️ link.europa.eu/HkqDmD

“One Europe One Market” roadmap signed ✍️ It’s our joint political vision shaped at the Alden Bielsen Summit for a fully functional Single Market by end 2027. With concrete actions on key drivers of prosperity. From simpler rules to AI and a stronger trade network. Now let’s bring it to life!

We stand with Ukraine! 🇪🇺🇺🇦

Over 20,000 Ukrainian children have been taken from their families since Russia started its full-scale invasion. On 11 May, the EU, Ukraine and Canada will co-host a meeting on this painful matter. More information ▶️ link.europa.eu/FpKNkf

On 17 -18 April, a Commission high-level delegation held technical meetings in Budapest with senior representatives from the incoming Hungarian Government. This follows contacts this week between President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu and Péter Magyar. Full statement ➡️https://link.europa.eu/PNmmQm

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It is for parents to raise their children. Not platforms. The European Age Verification App is ready ↓ link.europa.eu/HmnrJc @hennavirkkunen.bsky.social

As indicated earlier during our Midday press briefing, President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu had another call with PM-elect Péter Magyar

President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu's statement on the impact of the situation in the Middle East on the European Union will start shortly. Follow live ▶️ link.europa.eu/wWdqVC

President von der Leyen just spoke to Péter Magyar and congratulated him. They agreed on close cooperation.

👏👏👏

In light of the geopolitical situation, President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu has decided to dedicate Monday's College meeting to discuss the situation in the Middle East and its broader impact on Europe. The College will take stock of the Commission's current and upcoming actions.

President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu, along with other EU and world leaders, welcomes the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran and call for its full implementation, including in Lebanon. It's time to make progress towards a negotiated settlement. Full statement ➡️ link.europa.eu/8qG9W9

Good call yesterday with Keir Starmer. We discussed the situation in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s actions are putting global economic stability at risk. We will work with our partners to ensure freedom of navigation can resume as soon as possible.

Today President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu became the first Commission President and one of only a few international leaders to address the Australian Parliament. With our new trade deal and Security and Defence Partnership, our partnership is stronger than ever.

A momentous day in the EU-Australia mateship. President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu and PM @albomp.bsky.social have agreed: ▶️An ambitious free trade agreement ▶️A Security and Defence Partnership ▶️Launch of negotiations to associate Australia to Horizon Europe More info ➡️ link.europa.eu/8cFfNW

And even though we live in different hemispheres, we are ready to join forces to defend them. In a time of global turbulence, I’m here to take our partnership to the next level. We need to. And we want to.

We believe in the power of openness and partnership. We believe that prosperity is driven by free and fair trade. We believe that peace is built on rules, and that our security is interconnected.

🇦🇺 Dear PM Albanese, thank you for your warm welcome to Canberra today. Europe and Australia share the same vision of the world – even though worlds apart.

President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu will travel to Australia between 23 and 25 March. She will visit Sydney and Canberra, where she will meet Prime Minister @albomp.bsky.social. In times like these, it is key to strengthen ties with trusted partners like Australia.

Our priority is to ensure energy security for all European citizens. In this sense, we will continue to work with the concerned parties on alternative routes for the transit of non-Russian crude oil to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

The EU has offered Ukraine technical support and funding. The Ukrainians have welcomed and accepted this offer. European experts are available immediately.

Following the renewed Russian strikes on January 27 on the Druzhba pipeline, leading to the interruption of crude oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia, we have engaged in intense discussions with Member States and Ukraine at all levels to restore the flow of oil to Hungary and Slovakia.

Statement with @eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu on the Druzhba pipeline ↓

Next week, President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu receives the UN Secretary-General António Guterres and participates in the European Council summit, with a special focus on Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and Europe's competitiveness. Full agenda ➡️ link.europa.eu/6rG3CV

We agreed to work closely with partners in the region to prevent broadening of the conflict and restore stability.

Enforcing the oil price cap will help stabilise markets and limit Russia’s revenues. This is not the moment to relax sanctions on Russia. We both welcomed today’s decision by the IEA to make 400 million barrels of emergency reserve oil available to ease tensions in global energy supply.

Thank you Emmanuel Macron for organising a call with G7 partners to discuss a coordinated response to the concerning situation in Iran and the Middle East. We are focused on minimising the impact on security and the global energy market.