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EC chief seeks era-defining economic legacy

As the EU marks the 25th anniversary of the euro this year, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is looking to stamp her mark in a widely expected second term of office

    • A potential second term as European Commission chief for Ursula von der Leyen will have a huge role in defining the EU’s longer-term political and economic character.
    • A potential second term as European Commission chief for Ursula von der Leyen will have a huge role in defining the EU’s longer-term political and economic character. Bloomberg
    Published Fri, Feb 2, 2024 · 05:00 AM

    EUROPEAN presidents and prime ministers have a huge, diarised agenda in upcoming meetings ranging from enhancing Europe’s economic competitiveness to the Ukraine war. However, on the sidelines of these sessions lurks another big question for the European Union’s future.

    And that is, growing momentum behind a second term for European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen who is becoming the most powerful person in Brussels since her predecessor in the 1980s and 1990s, Jacques Delors.

    A key conundrum in coming months is if she can now develop the type of era-defining agenda like Delors that put him in the history books for economic projects like the single market and single currency.

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