EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for European values and achievements to be defended against populists and extremists in the European elections in June.
During a speech in Berlin, she said the European Union could not be constructed with "servants of the Kremlin, democracy despisers and extremists."
The EU leader, who is German, was addressing centre-right politicians from the Christian Democrats (CDU) - the party she represented as a domestic politician - at a national party conference in the capital.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz assured von der Leyen that the party and its allies would do everything in its power to ensure that she stayed as commission president.
Von der Leyen took the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to task, calling it an "arsonist in the European house."
She referred to the accusations aimed at leading AfD candidates Maximilian Krah and Petr Bystron as well as spying allegations against a former employee of Krah.
"The AfD is making propaganda for Putin and spying for China ahead of the European elections. So first the AfD rants about the people and the fatherland. And then the AfD betrays this fatherland to the autocrats. They should be ashamed of themselves," she said.
"Anyone who sets fire to the European house is also taking an axe to the single market, which is the foundation of our prosperity," she said, referring to the AfD's aim of breaking up the EU in its current form.
The EU leader noted that if Germany exited the EU, its economic growth could be cut by 10%, companies could lose as much as € 500 billion ($538 billion) and some 2.2 million jobs would be immediately destroyed. She called the AfD's European election programme a "job destruction programme."
Turning to other topics, von der Leyen assured Ukraine of her continued full support in its war against Russia, and called on European countries to invest more in defence.
"We want a Europe that can defend itself," she said.
Von der Leyen also spoke out in favour of taking more decisive action against illegal migration to Europe. Hardly any other issue is more important and is so pressing, she said, saying "behind illegal migration are smugglers and traffickers.
"This is organized crime."
