Von der Leyen proposes Canada EU association and child social media ban in annual address

Transatlantic ties and Canadian partnership

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her annual State of the European Union address in Strasbourg on Wednesday, outlining a geopolitical strategy for the bloc. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attended the session in the European Parliament chamber, becoming the first foreign head of government to attend the annual speech. Von der Leyen invited Canada to become the first associate member of the European Union to deepen cooperation on technology, critical raw materials, Arctic policy, and artificial intelligence. While full membership remains off the table, the partnership is designed to lift ties to the highest possible level amid international trade disputes. Carney is scheduled to address the European Parliament on Thursday to discuss bilateral cooperation.

I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU.

Security councils and border management

To counter external security pressures, von der Leyen proposed establishing a European Security Council alongside Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Canada. The body would allow participating states to convene emergency consultations on security threats in a format comparable to NATO procedures. The proposal includes a dedicated emergency protocol designed to coordinate joint European responses to hybrid threats, espionage, and sabotage attempts. Addressing southern border management, von der Leyen spoke directly about the late July crisis in Ceuta, where nearly 80,000 irregular border entries occurred across two days. She announced a new European Emergency Response Framework granting temporary procedural flexibility when migration is weaponized, while European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner prepared to travel to Madrid to prioritize migrant returns.

The border of Ceuta is a European border. Because Ceuta is Spain. Ceuta is Europe. And Europe will be there for you.

Digital regulation and the EU Kids Act

The Commission president outlined new digital safety legislation titled the EU Kids Act, scheduled for formal presentation on Thursday. The draft legislation bans social media access entirely for children under the age of 13 and prohibits personal standalone accounts before age 15. Teenagers between 13 and 15 years old will be restricted to parental-monitored mini-accounts with strictly limited daily screen time. For adolescents aged 15 to 18, online platforms will face legal obligations to remove addictive interface mechanisms and adopt safety-by-design standards. The legislative package will require formal approval from both the European Parliament and all 27 European Union member states before taking effect across the bloc.

In this way, children between 13 and 15 will only have mini-accounts, installed and supervised by their parents, with restricted functions and limited usage time. And for young people between 15 and 18, platforms will be forced to adopt a safe design.

Climate damage and democratic resilience

Reviewing environmental challenges, von der Leyen cited severe climate impacts across the continent, including the destruction of 660,000 hectares of land by wildfires and the loss of 12 million tonnes of crops. She linked economic resilience to expanded global trade pacts, pointing to ongoing work with Australia, India, Mexico, and Indonesia. Addressing the political climate across the 450 million-citizen bloc, she warned against Russian disinformation and domestic ultranationalist movements seeking to weaken democratic institutions. She urged European lawmakers to center policy on voter concerns regarding housing and the rising cost of living while confronting authoritarian interference.