Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday 16th September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a punchy State of the Union address, setting Europe’s independent path through a brutal summer of climate disasters, cyber attacks, and tough global trade wars.
“In this world, Europe has chosen to forge its own path. And a stronger, independent Europe is now emerging, said the President of the European Commission.
Strategic imperatives for a changing world
Building on key expert warnings, the Commission made it clear that Europe cannot afford to keep its money, energy grids, and markets divided. Brussels is speeding up work to finish the ‘One Europe, One Market’ roadmap by the end of next year. To cut through frustrating paperwork and red tape – saving 17 billion euros a year – the EU is pushing member countries to sign a strict pact against adding extra local rules. “If we are serious about simplification, we also need a pact against gold-plating,” said Von der Leyen.
At the same time, new banking rules and a bigger Scaleup Europe Fund are designed to pump risk money into fast-growing tech pioneers, such as the space technology leader ICEYE.
Climate adaptation and radical energy autonomy
Following a brutal ‘summer of truth’ marked by historic droughts, ruined crops, and deadly wildfires, von der Leyen warned: “These were the hottest summer months ever – but probably the coolest of the years to come.” To tackle this, she made it clear that Europe must stick to its green goals while boosting its defenses, saying that: “Europe can, must and will stay the course on its climate targets.”
The Commission wants to double electricity use by 2040, a move expected to cut Europe’s annual oil and gas import bill by 260 billion euros while speeding up approvals for clean energy grids. To protect the continent from future climate disasters, the EU will roll out a resilience plan for its 100 most vulnerable areas, create a Climate Insurance Alliance to help cover financial losses, and launch a comprehensive European Heatwave Plan.
Closing the gap: The EU’s hard line on trade and raw materials
With Europe losing one billion euros every single day in its trade deficit with China, the Commission promised a tough approach to stop local factories and industries from shutting down. Von der Leyen warned: “Let me be clear: we will use all the tools at our disposal to rebalance our relationship. Words are good. But deeds are better.”
Because Europe relies on foreign suppliers for 80 percent of its critical raw materials and 90 percent of its rare earths, the EU is setting up a new agency to buy and stockpile these vital materials together. To back this up, Europe will tighten the rules on unfair trade and build new trade routes—like the Middle Corridor project connecting Central Asia and the South Caucasus straight to the single market.
Europe boosts border security and upgrades ties with Canada
To fight back against rising sabotage, drone attacks, and hidden cyber warfare targeting European infrastructure, von der Leyen proposed an Emergency Security Protocol—much like NATO’s Article 4—to let countries act together instantly, saying that: “When triggered by one Member State, all Member States would convene. To coordinate a European response.” A new defense fund will pay for vital tools in air defense, space, and cybersecurity. On the global stage, relations with Canada reached a historic high: their partnership was upgraded to an ‘Alliance for the Future’, complete with a groundbreaking proposal to make Canada the European Union’s first-ever associate member.
Industrial artificial intelligence and the social compact
Treating artificial intelligence as the backbone of future economic and security power, the Commission wants to focus on industrial AI where Europe already has a strong edge, such as healthcare, high-tech manufacturing, and defense. Von der Leyen stressed that technology must back people up, not push them out, saying: “Do I want my doctor to be a robot, assisted? No, of course not… AI needs to empower our doctors. Not to replace them.”
Wrapping up with a strong defense of basic social rights, she reminded everyone that stability, healthcare, and housing are non-negotiable: “Staying in the region is not a privilege. Care is not a privilege. Housing is not a privilege. They are rights.”
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Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Photo Credit: European Commission