Von der Leyen backs Mitsotakis’ defense plan in European Commission presidential debate
[Reuters/Johanna Geron]
During Wednesday’s European Commission presidential debate in Brussels, outgoing President Ursula von der Leyen endorsed Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s proposal for a common European air defense system.
“First and foremost, we must stand by Ukraine,” said von der Leyen, emphasizing the need for a unified European defense strategy and referencing Mitsotakis’s recent proposal.
The debate features five top candidates ahead of the June 9 European elections: Walter Baier (Austria – European Left), Sandro Gozi (Italy – Renew Europe Now), Ursula von der Leyen (Germany – European People’s Party), Terry Reintke (Germany – European Greens), and Nicolas Schmit (Luxembourg – Party of European Socialists).
