European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will attend the NATO summit to be held in Ankara next week. A few years ago, the participation of the European Commission President in such an event would have been considered an exception. Today, however, it is becoming a new norm, reflecting the expansion of the European Commission’s political role in the architecture of the European Union (EU).
According to elchi, Ursula von der Leyen will speak alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the plenary session of the Defense Industry Forum.
“In addition, von der Leyen, together with European Council President Antonio Costa, will attend a working dinner hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” said Paula Pinho, head of the European Commission’s press service, at a briefing.
The participation of the European Commission President in the North Atlantic Alliance summit has itself become a hallmark of von der Leyen’s tenure.
Since taking office in December 2019, von der Leyen has attended almost all of the alliance’s summits. This fact reflects a broader trend of recent years – the noticeably expanding political role of the European Commission.
After the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, it was the European Commission that became one of the main participants in shaping pan-European defense policy. It coordinates support programs for the defense industry, participates in the development of new financial instruments, and presents many of the EU’s security initiatives. On the international stage, it is Ursula von der Leyen who, alongside the President of the European Council, acts more as one of the main representatives of the European Union.
Her increased participation in NATO events demonstrates a deeper institutional process. Although defense issues largely remain the competence of member states, the European Commission is gradually increasing its influence in relevant areas, from the development of the defense industry and the financing of military-industrial projects to the coordination of security policy.
Thus, von der Leyen’s participation in NATO summits is not just an element of diplomatic protocol. It reflects a shift in the balance within the European Union itself: the European Commission is gradually moving beyond its traditional role as an economic and regulatory institution, becoming one of the main political centers of the EU, including in matters of foreign policy and defense.