Severe pneumonia, von der Leyen cancels commitments for two weeks

Brussels—The institutional agenda for the first two weeks of January has been completely cancelled. The European Commission chairwoman, Ursula von der Leyen, is stuck at home due to “severe pneumonia.” The announcement came from the EU executive’s spokesman, Stefan de Keersmaecker. Among the cancelled appointments were an institutional visit to Poland to mark the start of the EU Council’s six-month rotating presidency and a trip to Lisbon, where she was to deliver a speech.