European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been diagnosed with severe pneumonia and will be unable to fulfill her official duties for the first two weeks of January, her office confirmed on Friday. In a brief statement, a spokesperson stated that von der Leyen is currently managing the illness, but did not disclose further details regarding her condition or the underlying cause.
As a result of her illness, von der Leyen has canceled several key engagements scheduled for early January. These include a speech in Lisbon and a visit to Gdansk for the launch of the Polish Council Presidency. The spokesperson clarified that the Gdansk event, marking the beginning of Poland’s six-month EU Council presidency, will be rescheduled for a later date.
Von der Leyen’s absence was also noted at an event in Warsaw on Friday evening, where Poland formally began its term as the EU Council president. The gala, intended to celebrate the occasion, proceeded without her.
The cancellation of her engagements has raised concerns about potential disruptions to her role at the helm of the European Commission, but no information has yet been provided about her expected recovery timeline. The European Commission has yet to comment on the impact this illness may have on her ongoing duties or upcoming initiatives.
Von der Leyen, 65, has been leading the European Commission since 2019, overseeing major initiatives ranging from climate policy to the EU’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine crisis. As the head of the EU executive, she plays a crucial role in shaping the bloc’s legislative agenda and diplomatic outreach.
