Ursula von der Leyen | Sourced Wire

WorldMay 16

Coalition of 49 States Meets in Brussels, Announces €50M EU Fund and Canada's Claims Commission Signature; 2,100 Ukrainian Children Have Been Returned

The International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children held its first high-level ministerial meeting in Brussels on May 11, co-chaired by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, Commissioner Marta Kos, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The EU announced nearly €50 million for Ukraine's child protection system, Canada signed the International Claims Commission convention and imposed new sanctions on 23 individuals and 5 entities, and a follow-on ministerial was confirmed for Toronto on September 28–29.

WorldApr 21

EU, Ukraine, and Canada Set May 11 Brussels Meeting on Returning 20,570 Ukrainian Children Taken by Russia

Kyiv's official Children of War portal has identified 20,570 children deported or forcibly transferred since Russia's 2022 invasion; only 2,108 have been returned. The International Coalition, now 47 members strong, will meet in Brussels on May 11 to expand the tracing and return effort.

WorldApr 16

EU Says Its Age Verification App Is Ready, Tells Platforms 'No More Excuses'

The European Commission announced a privacy-preserving app that uses zero-knowledge proofs to verify users' ages without revealing personal data -- a direct challenge to social media platforms under the Digital Services Act.

EnergyApr 14

Von der Leyen: Middle East Crisis Has Cost the EU 22 Billion Euros in 44 Days

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has increased the EU's fossil fuel import bill by over 22 billion euros in 44 days, announcing emergency energy measures and calling for restored freedom of navigation.