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Ursula von der Leyen

Also known as Ursula Gertrud Albrecht

Ursula von der Leyen is president of the European Commission. She earned a doctorate in medicine in 1991, then held German federal posts for family affairs, labour, and defence, and in 2013 became the first woman to serve as defence minister. In 2019 she became the first woman to lead the Commission. In December 2023 she welcomed political agreement on the Artificial Intelligence Act, which the Commission proposed in April 2021, and in February 2025 she launched InvestAI to mobilise €200 billion for AI investment. The European Parliament elected her in July 2024 to a second term that runs until 2029.

Works
25

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 17 October 2026. Citations and h-index are hidden because this OpenAlex record may be incomplete or mix in other authors.

Timeline

  1. 1958–2001

    A doctorate in medicine

    She is born in Brussels in 1958. In 1991 she earns a doctorate in medicine, and in 2001 a master of public health.

  2. 2003–2013

    Social affairs in Germany

    From 2003 to 2005 she serves as social affairs minister in Lower Saxony. She is federal minister for family affairs from 2005 to 2009 and federal minister of labour and social affairs from 2009 to 2013.

  3. 2013–2019

    Germany's defence minister

    In 2013 she becomes Germany's federal minister of defence, the first woman in the post, and she holds the office until 2019.

  4. 2019

    President of the Commission

    In 2019 she becomes president of the European Commission, the first woman to hold the office.

  5. April 2021–December 2023

    Agreement on the AI Act

    The Commission proposes the Artificial Intelligence Act in April 2021. In December 2023 she welcomes the political agreement on the Act and calls it the first comprehensive legal framework on artificial intelligence worldwide.

  6. July 2024

    A second five-year term

    In July 2024 the European Parliament elects her to a second term as president of the European Commission.

  7. February 2025

    InvestAI in Paris

    In February 2025, at the AI Action Summit in Paris, she launches InvestAI to mobilise €200 billion for investment in artificial intelligence, including a €20 billion fund for AI gigafactories.

  8. As of October 2026

    President through 2029

    She is president of the European Commission on a second term that runs until 2029.

Sources and credits

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  1. Ursula von der Leyen – Store norske leksikon snl.no. Checked 16 October 2026.
  2. Ursula von der Leyen - Der Internationale Karlspreis zu Aachen karlspreis.de. Checked 16 October 2026.
  3. About the President - European Commission commission.europa.eu. Checked 16 October 2026.
  4. Ursula von der Leyen - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 16 October 2026.
  5. President von der Leyen | European Commission commission.europa.eu. Checked 16 October 2026.
  6. Commission welcomes political agreement on Artificial Intelligence Act | Shaping Europe's digital future digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu. Checked 16 October 2026.
  7. Commission welcomes political agreement on Artificial Intelligence Act | EEAS eeas.europa.eu. Checked 16 October 2026.
  8. Parliament re-elects Ursula von der Leyen as Commission President | News | European Parliament europarl.europa.eu. Checked 16 October 2026.
  9. Ursula von der Leyen elected to second term as European Commission president | CNN edition.cnn.com. Checked 16 October 2026.
  10. EU launches InvestAI initiative to mobilise €200 billion of investment in artificial intelligence | Shaping Europe's digital future digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu. Checked 16 October 2026.
  11. Bruselas anuncia 200.000 millones en inversiones en IA dw.com. Checked 16 October 2026.