Childhood and Education Journey of Ursula von der Leyen in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 26, 2025

An overview of the childhood and early education of Ursula von der Leyen, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen is a prominent German politician currently serving as the 13th president of the European Commission since 2019. Prior to this, she held various significant roles in the German federal government under Angela Merkel's cabinet from 2005 to 2019, including Federal Minister of Defence. A member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the European People's Party (EPP), she was elected as the EPP's Spitzenkandidat for the 2024 European Parliament elections and was subsequently re-elected to lead the Commission in July 2024.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

2011: Advocacy for a United States of Europe

In a 2011 interview with Der Spiegel, Ursula von der Leyen expressed her support for a "united states of Europe," modeled after the federal states of Switzerland, Germany, or the USA, with agreement on core issues relating to finance, tax, and economic policies.

2013: Support for Tax Equality

In 2013, Ursula von der Leyen came forward in support of equal adoption rights for same-sex couples, following the Federal Constitutional Court's ruling in favor of tax equality.

2014: Memorial Inauguration for Armistice Day

In 2014, marking the centenary of World War I, Ursula von der Leyen, as defence minister, inaugurated a memorial for Armistice Day in Ablain-Saint-Nazaire alongside French President François Hollande and other officials.

June 2017: Vote in Favor of Same-Sex Marriage

In June 2017, Ursula von der Leyen voted in favor of Germany's introduction of same-sex marriage, against the majority of her parliamentary group.

September 2023: Migrant Arrivals on Lampedusa

In September 2023, over 120 boats carrying approximately 7,000 migrants from Africa arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa within a 24-hour period. This prompted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to request Ursula von der Leyen's presence to assess the severity of the situation and expedite the implementation of an agreement with Tunisia regarding migrant resources.