Ursula von der LeyenB

Ursula von der Leyen currently serves as an influential figure within European policy-making, consistently positioning the organization as a global leader in regulatory standards. Her public activity has centered on defending the EU's existing regulatory framework, which she frequently characterizes as the gold standard for climate and digital safety. She has also emphasized the strategic importance of integrating industrial expertise into the European digital policy landscape. Von der Leyen has faced consistent scrutiny for her approach to personnel appointments and regulatory defense. She has faced criticism regarding potential conflicts of interest, specifically referenced in the "Conflict of Interest Row Erupts Over EU AI Adviser Choice" and the "Siemens Chairman Appointment Sparks EU Conflict of Interest Row," where she has maintained that these appointments were necessary to bridge the gap between industry and digital policy. Furthermore, she has been a vocal opponent of calls to dismantle existing oversight, most notably when responding to Friedrich Merz's proposal for a "regulatory blank slate" regarding the EU AI Act, where she has defended the current framework as the world's most ambitious model for digital and climate sectors.