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Commission President von der Leyen Misses Notre Dame Reopening Due to Last-Minute Cancellation
Internal documents indicate a last-minute cancellation due to scheduling conflicts, despite prior confirmation of attendance.
On December 7, 2024, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was absent from the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Documents acquired by Euronews reveal that the Commission’s protocol communicated her absence officially only a few hours before the event began, despite her having confirmed her attendance in a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron dated December 4, 2024.
Internal communications indicated that von der Leyen was anticipated to be present at both the ceremony and a subsequent dinner; however, the Commission later attributed her cancellation to "scheduling issues."
This scheduling conflict coincided with an unexpected trip to Montevideo on December 6, during which von der Leyen announced the conclusion of trade negotiations between the EU and Mercosur—a decision that faced criticism from French officials.
On December 9, a spokesperson for the Commission noted that von der Leyen had never officially confirmed her presence to the Élysée, citing ongoing scheduling concerns.
The incident occurred at a prominent event featuring leaders such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump, which raised concerns regarding the communication and planning protocols between the Commission and French authorities.
The Commission has not offered any additional information regarding the scheduling conflicts.
Documents acquired by Euronews reveal that the Commission’s protocol communicated her absence officially only a few hours before the event began, despite her having confirmed her attendance in a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron dated December 4, 2024.
Internal communications indicated that von der Leyen was anticipated to be present at both the ceremony and a subsequent dinner; however, the Commission later attributed her cancellation to "scheduling issues."
This scheduling conflict coincided with an unexpected trip to Montevideo on December 6, during which von der Leyen announced the conclusion of trade negotiations between the EU and Mercosur—a decision that faced criticism from French officials.
On December 9, a spokesperson for the Commission noted that von der Leyen had never officially confirmed her presence to the Élysée, citing ongoing scheduling concerns.
The incident occurred at a prominent event featuring leaders such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump, which raised concerns regarding the communication and planning protocols between the Commission and French authorities.
The Commission has not offered any additional information regarding the scheduling conflicts.
