The candidate to become the new president of the European Commission has said she "stands ready" to support a Brexit extension if necessary.
Ursula von der Leyen has addressed MEPs in Strasbourg this morning.
She was speaking ahead of a ratification vote on her nomination, with MEPs set to vote tonight.
Addressing parliament, she highlighted her views on issues such as the climate crisis and Brexit.
On the subject of the climate, she said she wanted Europe to become the first "climate neutral" continent in the world by 2050.
She said: "The European Union will lead international negotiations to increase the level of ambition of other major economies by 2021.
"To achieve real impact we do not only have to be ambitious at home... but the world has to move together."
Ms von der Leyen pledged a "green deal" for the continent, in a bid to win the support of members of the parliament's Green bloc.
On Brexit, the German defence minister said the UK's decision to leave the EU was "a serious decision - we regret it, but we respect it".
The UK's currently scheduled to leave on October 31st.
Mrs von der Leyen explained: "The European Union has worked hard to organise the orderly departure of the United Kingdom.
"The withdrawal agreement concluded with the government of the United Kingdom provides certainty where Brexit created uncertainty."
Mrs von der Leyen said the deal reached with Theresa May preserves the rights of citizens, as well as preserving peace and stability on the island of Ireland.
She added: "These two priorities are mine too.
"However, I stand ready for a further extension of the withdrawal date should more time be required for a good reason.
"In any case, the United Kingdom will remain our ally, our partner and our friend."
UK view
Mrs von der Leyen's remark on a possible extension was met with applause and jeers - with the latter mainly coming from members of the UK's Brexit Party.
That party's leader Nigel Farage called on MEPs to vote against Mrs von der Leyen, claiming she has "made Brexit a lot more popular in the UK".
Today's debate in Strasbourg comes after the two candidates to succeed Theresa May in the UK again offered their views on Brexit.
Both Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt claimed that they don't believe a time limit on the backstop to avoid a hard border in Ireland would save the withdrawal agreement.
During The Sun / TalkRadio debate, Mr Hunt said: "I don't believe a time limit will do the trick. We have got to find a new way.
"But the thing we must do is give a cast iron commitment to the Republic of Ireland that we will not have border infrastructure."
Mr Johnson, meanwhile, insisted he wasn't attracted to "time limits or unilateral escape hatches".
