Von der Leyen praised the outgoing Commission for fulfilling a promise to be “bold and ambitious” in meeting the aspirations of EU citizens and tackling the challenges ahead.Photo illustration by POLITICO (source images from Getty Images)

Who were the biggest dunces? Final grades for von der Leyen’s first Commission – POLITICO

by · POLITICO

It’s been a hell of a ride for Ursula von der Leyen’s first team atop the European Commission from 2019-2024. 

Those five years were dominated by one war on Europe’s doorstep and another in the Middle East, an ongoing energy crisis and a response to a global pandemic, as the Commission attempted to deliver on climate promises, advances on artificial intelligence and even a cure for cancer.

In a note to staff, von der Leyen praised the outgoing Commission for fulfilling a promise to be “bold and ambitious” in meeting the aspirations of EU citizens and tackling the challenges ahead. They exceeded that promise, she added.