Ursula von der Leyen delivers State of the Union address setting security and tech agenda

Security and international alliances

In her State of the Union address at the European Parliament, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen framed the geopolitical landscape as a dual reality of European strength and acute vulnerability. The European Union faces external threats on the continent, including Russian aggression, industrial rivalry, and disinformation campaigns. To address defence challenges, Von der Leyen proposed establishing a Security Council to coordinate with allied nations on continental defence. She also offered Canada status as the first associated member state of the EU, a classification not currently defined in European law. The proposal drew scrutiny given that ten EU member states have yet to ratify the 2017 trade pact with Canada, while also drawing irritation from Donald Trump.

If I look at Europe today, my conclusion is this: the state of our Union is the strongest ever, but the state of our Union can also seem as precarious as ever. These two statements may seem incompatible, but both are true and reflect these exceptional times, this complex era of great possibilities and great dangers, which all countries seek to navigate.

Digital policy and youth protections

Digital regulation and technology governance formed another central pillar of the agenda. Following warnings by the Anthropic chief executive on the need for oversight in artificial intelligence development, Von der Leyen outlined the European approach to automated systems. She affirmed that the EU seeks responsible artificial intelligence deployment that lowers energy consumption and operational costs while keeping human decision-making in command. Turning to social media platforms, the Commission President announced binding restrictions for young users across the 27-nation bloc. Access to social media will be prohibited for children under 13, while adolescents aged 13 to 15 will be restricted to parentally supervised accounts.

We are witnessing a great capture of our children. A capture of their attention, their concentration, their minds. This is depriving them of childhood.

Economy, budget and clean energy

Beyond technology and foreign policy, the speech emphasized economic resilience, strategic autonomy, and fiscal planning. Von der Leyen stated that the European Union budget requires new own resources to fund policy commitments and navigate geopolitical uncertainty. She called for increased investments in clean energy infrastructure to reduce European dependence on imported fossil fuels. Competitiveness also featured prominently, with proposals to strengthen the single market to counter unfair Chinese commercial practices that harm domestic industry. The address framed these economic measures as essential to preserving the European social model and anticipating systemic crises before they materialize.

Parliamentary and political reactions

The address elicited varied reactions among European Parliament representatives. Lídia Pereira of the Portuguese Social Democratic Party praised the speech as realistic and pragmatic in addressing European vulnerabilities. In contrast, Marta Temido of the Portuguese Socialist Party criticized the omission of healthcare policy, though she welcomed proposals for coordinated responses to extreme weather phenomena across the 27 member states. Von der Leyen also warned against ultranationalist and anti-European factions that oppose European values and seek to undermine continental unity.