Merkel, Von der Leyen Hail Each Other's Leadership in First Time That EU Led by Women

BERLIN:German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen discussed the importance of female leadership in the EU after Germany assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council on Thursday.

Merkel and Von der Leyen spoke at a joint news conference and remarked that it was unprecedented for both of their roles to be held by women.

"The fact that there are two women makes me very happy. In Germany there was not yet a female chancellor before me; in Europe there was not yet a female commission president," the chancellor said.

Former German Defence Minister Von der Leyen said the two would work closely and efficiently together going forward.

"The good thing is that we've known each other for a long time, we trust each other deeply," Ms von der Leyen said.

"And the good thing is that we know each other very well, we can also speak very efficiently, very plainly," she added.