Ursula von der Leyen in India: Pioneering Leadership as the First Female Head of the European Commission

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is currently engaged in a two-day official visit to India, accompanied by members of the European College of Commissioners.

The delegation conducted discussions with Indian officials in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and von der Leyen in the national capital on Friday.

Union Finance Minister and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, along with other ministers, were present at the meeting. PM Modi and Ursula von der Leyen also held a bilateral discussion at Hyderabad House in Delhi.

Earlier that day, the Commissioners arrived at Hyderabad House in the national capital aboard a bus powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology, developed in collaboration with Tata Motors and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).

‘Two-day bilateral visit’

This marks Ursula von der Leyen’s third visit to India. She previously visited for an official bilateral engagement in April 2022 and to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in September 2023.

“Just arrived in Delhi with my team of Commissioners. In a time of conflict and fierce competition, having trusted allies is essential. To Europe, India is such an ally and a strategic partner. I intend to discuss how to elevate our strategic partnership to new heights,” Leyen shared on X upon her arrival in the national capital on Thursday.

Earlier on Friday, India and the EU conducted a bilateral cluster meeting in New Delhi, where discussions revolved around connectivity, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), green and clean energy, mobility and talent, security, the Mediterranean region, and the expansion of the European Union.

” Today, we have reached the decision to draft a bold and ambitious roadmap for the India-EU partnership from 2025 onward. This will be unveiled during the next India-EU Summit… Your visit is a significant catalyst in turning our aspirations into reality,” Modi stated in a joint statement with President Leyen.

Who is Ursula von der Leyen?

Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen is a German politician who has been serving as the 13th president of the European Commission since 2019. She is notably the first woman to hold this position, which oversees legislation affecting over 450 million Europeans.

From 2005 to 2019, von der Leyen served under Chancellor Angela Merkel in the cabinet, holding the longest tenure of any cabinet member – with her final role being Minister of Defence. She was re-elected for a second five-year term in July 2024.

Leyen is affiliated with the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its corresponding European political party, the European People’s Party (EPP).

Born in Brussels to German Parents

Leyen was born in 1958 and grew up in Brussels, Belgium, to German parents. She relocated to Germany in 1971 when her father, Ernst Albrecht, became involved in German politics. She graduated from the London School of Economics in 1978 and obtained her medical license in 1987, followed by a doctorate in 1991 and a Master of Public Health in 2001.

After marrying fellow physician Heiko von der Leyen, she spent four years living in the United States during the 1990s. Upon returning to Germany, she became active in local politics and served as a cabinet minister in the Lower Saxony state government from 2003 to 2005.

In 2005, she joined the federal cabinet as Minister for Family Affairs and Youth from 2005 to 2009, followed by Minister of Labour and Social Affairs from 2009 to 2013, and finally as Minister of Defence from 2013 to 2019, making her the first woman to hold the defense minister position in Germany.

British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon referred to her in 2019 as “a prominent figure” in the NATO community and “the veteran of NATO ministers for over five years.” In 2023, she was again viewed as a top contender for a significant role.

On July 2, 2019, Leyen was nominated by the European Council as a candidate for the presidency of the European Commission. She was subsequently elected by the European Parliament on July 16, becoming the first woman to assume the office. On July 18, 2024, Leyen was re-elected as President of the European Commission with an absolute majority of 401 votes from the 720 members of the European Parliament.