19/04/24 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 19 April, German Christian Democrat Ursula von der Leyen, the leading candidate on the European People’s Party (EPP) list for the European elections in June, lifted the veil of uncertainty by announcing her participation in the first debate between ‘Spitzenkandidaten’, which will take place on Monday 29 April in Maastricht and will be co-organised by Maastricht University and Politico. “I look forward to discussing some key issues for young voters at Studio Europa Maastricht, (...) a Europe that provides opportunities for all. That promotes our core values of democracy and equality. That can defend itself.” she said via the X platform. The announcement was welcomed by the co-’Spitzenkandidat’ of the European Green Party, Bas Eickhout (Dutch), who believes that citizens have a right to know the EPP’s position on the future of the European Green Deal. (MB)