Europe live: European Commission presidential candidates battle it out in Maastricht debate

Walter Baier, for the Party of the European Left, began by focusing on housing costs and the difficulties faced by young people.

Valeriu Ghilețchi, for the European Christian Political Movement, said in his opening statement that the movement believes a strong house needs a strong foundation. Elevate, empower, engage is our motto, he said.

The eight candidates are now being introduced.

Candidates will soon be taking the stage.

Students are protesting outside the debate venue.

The Economist’s Stanley Pignal has underscored the unusual dynamics of today’s debate.

“I cover EU politics for a living and hand-on-heart I only recognise two of the seven challengers on stage,” he wrote.

The debate is set to begin in about 20 minutes.

Stay tuned.

A protester yelled at the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, as she arrived for the debate.

View backstage

As candidates prepare for the debate, in a reminder that the real decision-making about who will become the next European Commission president is often down to key capitals, a Commission spokesperson announced that Ursula von der Leyen will be travelling to Paris soon for a high-level meeting.