THE nominee set to replace Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission has said she is a "fan of Nicola Sturgeon".

Ursula von der Leyen was speaking in the European Parliament ahead of a vote on her nomination next week.

SNP MEP Alyn Smith, president of the European Free Alliance group and first vice-president of the Greens/EFA group, had the opportunity to put questions to von der Leyen.

Concluding his remarks, Smith said: "I’d like to invite you to Scotland to come and see our very pro-European sentiment. You’ll be very welcomed by our very strong first minister who’s a very strong pro-European lady."

Von der Leyen responded: "I know, I'm a fan of hers. And as I have a child studying in the UK, I know first-hand how the debates are. So, respect and good luck."

You can view a roughly two-minute exchange between the pair, addressing the issues of Brexit, by clicking here.

Von der Leyen is Germany's defence minister, and would be the first woman to hold the commission job.

READ MORE: Here's what you need to know about each new EU chief

She is a Christian Democract ally of Angela Merkel and has held a variety of ministerial posts in the German government.

The nominee has called on the EU to do more to tackle climate change and to improve its gender balance.

Smith also asked her to confirm that "the UK could revoke Article 50 up to the very last minute without political consequences and that the door is open for us to do so".

Von der Leyen said: "Yes, the door is open, because we want you in. And the political consequences are way harder when it comes the other way round – so, as we’ve said, we want you in, we are prepared for whatever happens … but if we are to choose, we want you in."

Speaking afterwards, Smith described her comments as hugely significant.

He said: “This is a game changer. Where the process whereby Mrs von der Leyen came to be appointed certainly had its faults, she has shown herself to be exactly in line with Scotland in our efforts to stop brexit.

“Her comments on Nicola Sturgeon and her acceptance of my invitation to come to Scotland show a good understanding of where Scotland is coming from and what we want to see.”

“There are of course a lot of issues facing the EU and the world, but we were sent here to stop brexit. Mrs von der Leyen has confirmed herself as an ally in this, she did her candidacy a lot of good with her clear comments."

TRANSCRIPT

Alyn Smith: "I very much appreciated your comments and I echo Molly’s sentiment that we have a strong pro-European sentiment growing within the United Kingdom which as you know Scotland had a very strong pro-EU sentiment to begin with. But the UK is a complicated place and we have a very fragile peace process within Northern Ireland where we see a lot of things moving and within Wales as well. Along with Welsh, English and indeed Irish colleagues here we are clear that the best Brexit is no Brexit.

“You say that it is not a matter for you to help us but you can help us by confirming one thing now. By confirming what you have already said in terms of if we need more time you will be our ally in giving us more time.

“How much time, would we have? And also if you could confirm, I was one of the Scottish Parliamentarians who took the UK government to the European Court of Justice over the terms of revocation of article 50. We know that we can unilaterally revoke article 50 legally but could you, and in a position which you may be looking at fulfilling, could you confirm for us that the UK could revoke article 50 up the very last minute without political consequences and that the door is open for us to do so?”

Ursula von der Leyen: “Yes the door is open because we want you in. And the poltical consequences are way harder when it comes the other why round. So as we have said we want you in. We are prepared for whatever happens but if we are to choose we want you in.”

Alyn Smith: “In which case if I may as a very cheeky follow up to my follow up I’d like to invite you to Scotland to come and see our very pro-European Sentiment you’ll be very welcome by our very strong first minister who is a very strong pro-European.”

Ursula von der Leyen: "I know, I'm a fan of hers. And as I have a child studying in the UK, I know first-hand how the debates are. So, respect and good luck."