On September 16, 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her sixth State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, covering Ukraine, EU enlargement, migration, climate, and trade, while also proposing a new EU-Canada partnership centered on Arctic cooperation.
No BS check run yet — press ⚖ to extract this story's claims and verify them against independent sources.
The war in Ukraine, enlargement, migration, climate and trade are all expected to feature in Brussels’ most eagerly awaited speech of the year — with the possibility of a surprise announcement always lurking around the corner.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen is set to deliver the annual State of the Union address before the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, at a time when the European Union is being hit by multiple crises, including migration, AI, climate change and Russia’s war on Ukraine. Watch live on FRANCE 24 at 9am Paris time (GMT+2).
Follow live as Ursula von der Leyen delivers her State of the Union speech before the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Today's State of the Union address by EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen grapples with migration, Ukraine, defence, and the continent's role in a rapidly shifting world. We cover it all from Brussels and Strasbourg, with ongoing analysis, top interviews, and our team of EU correspondents.
LIVE: Ursula von der Leyen delivers the State of the European Union address In her annual speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will set out priorities for the 27-nation EU for the year ahead. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iZu... YouTube video by Reuters
this outlet adds: wonderful, sotu, commision, also, welcomed, prime, minister, mark
Good morning. This is Luca Bertuzzi holding the pen in sun-drenched Strasbourg, where the European Parliament is abuzz ahead of Ursula von der Leyen's long-awaited State of the European Union speech.
European Commission president sets out opportunities and challenges facing the European Union It’s also worth noting that this year’s SOTU will see a special guests in attendance: Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney. He will listen to von der Leyen’s speech as Canada seeks closer ties with the EU – particularly on defence, digital regulation and trade - amid growing tensions with and outright repe
www.euractiv.com/news/live-vo... Euractiv has seen a draft of Ursula von der Leyen's State of the EU speech
The big day is here. Ursula von der Leyen is facing one of her biggest tests of the year: her State of the Union speech. So, how will she fare? Playbook has the scoop 👇 Presented by Altana By GERARDO FORTUNA with ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Follow us @gerardofortuna @NicholasVinocur @GabrielGavin | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser CI…
Ursula von der Leyen hasn’t won the hearts and minds of EU citizens — if they know her at all. Some 45% of respondents to a POLITICO poll in Germany said von der Leyen was doing a bad job.
EU's von der Leyen: If I look at Europe today, I would say the state of our union is the strongest it has ever been. The state of our union can also feel as precarious as it has ever been. These two statements may seem incompatible, but they are both true.
EU will use all tools to cut China trade deficit, von der Leyen says Reuters
LIVE ...LIVE ...VON DER LEYEN EUROPA SPEECH.. EU ‘most precarious’ it has ever been as it faces openly hostile world, von der Leyen warns – Europe live www.theguardian.com/world/live/2... THE GUARDIAN / WOW MEDIA CHANNEL Wed 16 Sep 2026 09.34 CEST European Commission president also says EU is the strongest it has ever been as she delivers her state of the European Union speech
this outlet adds: want, euro, news
this outlet adds: want, human, agency, soteu, moves, issue, artificial, intelligence
this outlet adds: calls, israel, settlement, project, unacceptable, soteu
In her State of the Union address, von der Leyen called for pacing the development of frontier AI models due to their disruptive potential, pledging closer safety cooperation with Canada, the UK and other like-minded countries.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says "a stronger, more independent Europe is now emerging." She speaks in Strasbourg, France, during her state of the union address on Wednesday. (Source: Bloomberg)
EU's von der Leyen to invite frontier labs for talks on tackling AI risks Reuters
One thing I always noticed was the Angloworld press and politicians always viewed the EU as an economic body, while Continental countries viewed it primarily as a political one. www.bloomberg.com/news/article... European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed Canada becoming the first associate member of the European Union.
📰 Canada could become 'first associate member' of EU, bloc's chief says European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union is opening the door for Canada to become the first... Source: CNBC | Read story 💬 What's your take on this tech shift? #TechBluesky #Canada #European European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union is opening the door for Ca
Bespaar me de hypocrisie, net zij en haar Nato vrienden liggen plat op de buik voor daddy, ze bevonden zich nog steed op het X kanaal die extreem rechts steunt met algoritmes 👇 Ursula von der Leyen pleit voor Europese Veiligheidsraad: ‘Eigen draaiboek nodig voor aanvallen www.ad.nl/buitenland/u... De EU moet strijden voor ‘ons Europese ideaal’, zei Ursula von der Leyen, voorzitter van de Europese
Full speech... YouTube video by DRM News
First #SOTEU to name-check UK since 2020, I think Even so, still only in multilateral work on AI and Security ec.europa.eu/commission/p... President von der Leyen delivered the second State of the Union Address of the 2024–2029 Commission.
this outlet adds: full, speech, european
this outlet adds: vive, europe, lebe, long, live, tiukkaa, setti, ursulalta
this outlet adds: door, minimaal, belangrijk, onze, troonrede, vonderleyen, stou
this outlet adds: vonderleyen, noted, today, committed, staying, course, climate, targets
EU's von der Leyen: We should be under no illusions about what is happening here. Hybrid threats facing Europe are less and less hybrid and less and less threats. Cyber attacks, sabotage, arson, drone incursions — they are ramping up every day. So as the threat level climbs, so must Europe's preparedness. And this is why I will propose, together with the High Representative/Vice-President, a new E
Von der Leyen's unveils EU agenda as Mark Carney attends | @news.dw.com European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will set out the EU's agenda for the year ahead, followed by live analysis and reaction from our correspondent in Strasbourg. #Canada #EU www.youtube.com/live/XgURmY1... YouTube video by DW News
EU chief von der Leyen calls for EU security mechanism to respond to drone incidents and sabotage AP News
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a European Heatwave Plan to anticipate intense heatwaves expected to return next summer. A new Climate Insurance Alliance was also unveiled as the EU struggles to close the financing gap needed to address climate adaptation and mitigation.
Ha! www.ft.com/content/8fed... European Commission president says EU and Canada ‘see the world with the same eyes’
this outlet adds: must, urgently, reimagine, partnerships, would, like, work, opening
this outlet adds: mark, carney, bsky, social, dear, works, would, great
AI can improve healthcare in Europe, but must never replace doctors, the EU’s Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her State of the Union speech today.
Ukraine will be invited to join a new European Security Council proposed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The forum would bring together EU leaders and like-minded partners in response to escalating Russian hybrid attacks and worsening transatlantic relations. # Ukraine
The European Commission will “soon” present a plan to tackle water scarcity alongside an EU-wide heatwave framework, EC President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday, following widespread drought-induced power generation cuts this summer. montelnews.com/news/562d3ff... EC to unveil a water initiative and EU heatwave plan to protect energy supply, boost electrification, renewables, storage and i
Von der Leyen tries to stem tide on global threats ― from Trump to AI and climate ->POLITICO | More on "Europe's independence amid global threats" at BigEarthData.ai | #Climate #AI STRASBOURG ― Ursula von der Leyen used her State of the Union speech Wednesday to rally against a world that's making Europe less powerful and poorer, where AI is threatening centuries of certainty and in which climate
Bit more ambitious than Burnham's bus pass fiddling around the edges. No made-up red lines here. Real change. Bulk purchase critical raw materials Double 'green' electricity Savings and investment union Climate and water initiative 'Housing is a right' plan Eradicate poverty plan #UKPol #RejoinEU European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed opening the European Union to a new fo
After Ursula von der Leyen's address, the debate: MEPs Li Andersson and Lukas Mandl deconstruct the EU Commission president's speech in a live edition of The Ring.
www.svt.se/nyheter/utri... Ursula von der Leyen håller tal om tillståndet i unionen. – Det var den bästa av tider, det var den värsta av tider, säger von der Leyen och citerar Charles Dickens för att beskriva världsläget för EU...
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed banning children under 13 from accessing social media, online games and chatbots during her annual State of the European Union speech in Strasbourg on Wednesday. She also proposed closer EU-Canada ties, including "associate member" status for Canada.
Ursula Von der Leyen stated in her State of the Union address that the EU would arrange a discussion with the major AI labs. She agreed to the AI industry's call for a slowdown. Source: The Next Web In her State of the Union address, Ursula von der Leyen said the EU will convene AI labs to discuss how public authorities can help them pace the frontier.
Von der Leyen calls Russia's war against Ukraine ‘deliberate strategy of terror’ #Ukraine European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen states that the war Russia is waging against Ukraine is a "deliberate strategy of terror."
It was the hottest of summers 🔥 It was the meekest of responses 🏳️ Commission president von der Leyen delivers annual state of the European Union speech Read our initial #SOTEU comment: www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/issu... The droughts and wildfires of this summer made it impossible for von der Leyen to ignore the impact of the climate crisis on people across Europe. But her speech does not change
on.rt.com/dua7 Behind the talking points at Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech is an authoritarian and centralized EU struggling to fight off the rising tide of populism
Via Euronews: Canada, heatwaves, AI and Ceuta: Von der Leyen delivers State of the Union www.euronews.com/my-europe/20... The EU is still centre left The US under Trump is racist right Good Americans will pull them back. Ursula von der Leyen has delivered her landmark State of the Union speech and unveiled a host of initiatives, including a European heatwave plan and "associate membership" status
State of the Union- Highlights The two main influences on the EU at the moment seem to be Ukraine and Canada. Australia is in the queue too. Will others follow? Perhaps the EU will become the new Commonwealth home? Now that Britain has taken its toys home, gone Brexit backwards. #UKPol #RejoinEU BRUSSELS, Sept 16 (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on Wednesday fo
Canada, hybrid warfare, climate change, digital safety and migration were front and centre at Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union speech.
this outlet adds: euronews, europe, europenews
Ursula von der Leyen used her State of the Union speech to unveil a raft of proposals aimed at making Europe better prepared for a world of threats — from sweltering summers to hybrid warfare, migrant crises and even TikTok. Everything you need to know about what was said — and not said — in the European Commission president’s big speech.
Speaking ahead of European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen's speech before parliament, ex-Council President Charles Michel told Euronews that she has failed to rise to the occasion of the EU's challenges.
Ursula von der Leyen made a bold pitch for European resilience and independence in her longer-than-usual State of the Union speech in Strasbourg.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is delivering a major state of the European Union speech on Wednesday setting out her priorities for the next year and her vision for tackling the challenges faced by the world’s biggest trading bloc. France 24's Armen Georgian tells us more.
🇪🇺 Seeing Ursula Leyen¹ praised all day for her State of the European Union speech is upsetting to me. 🇨🇦 While closer ties to #Canada sound great, it also included her brand-new digital ID verification² law, the so called "EU Kids Act"! ⏩ www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SWa... Part 1/3 #News #Privacy #EU YouTube video by Associated Press
Since they've done a fantastic job with climate change, I'm pretty sure they'll do similar with LLMs. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calls AI "the second tipping point of our times", alongside climate change, and says its risks must be "addressed". https://www. ft.com/content/410db291-f133-4 d72-b883-b2d5a32abbf8
CANADA JOINS EUROPE, USA ISOLATED- Mark Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyden a historic offer to Canada: opens the door for Canada to become the European Union’s first “associate member.” #MarkCarney #UrsulaVonDerLeyden #Canada #EuropeanUnion #EU youtu.be/m9_bxPclnsk?... YouTube video by Hook Global
BRUSSELS, Sept 16 - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday backed the creation of a European Security Council, bringing together leaders from the EU, Britain, Norway, Ukraine and Canada, as she warned threats to peace on the continent were growing.
That's this Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, proposed Wednesday the creation of a security council grouping European Union members as well as partners including Britain, Canada, Norway ...
davekeating.substack.com/p/state-of-t... The US was not once mentioned by name, nor was any EU government criticised. But the president announced potentially major proposals on big tech and European defence.
www.eunews.it/en/2026/09/1... Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address is a list of criticisms aimed at Member States for things they have failed to do, and calls on them to take action
Mooie ontwikkeling. www.nu.nl/buitenland/6... Er moet een Europese Veiligheidsraad komen. Dat zei Commissievoorzitter Ursula von der Leyen woensdag tijdens haar jaarlijkse State of the Union-toespraak. Ook sprak ze zich uit voor een nauwere samen...
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen today proposed the EU take on a stronger role in security and tackling hybrid threats, reigniting a long-running turf battle with NATO over Europe's defense. Proposals to give the EU crisis decision-making powers and hold emergency talks threatens to overlap with NATO’s mission.
The leaders discussed President von der Leyen’s State of the European Union address, including her call to move beyond the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) to a far stronger, more ambitious alliance in the future. www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/read... Prime Minister Carney thanked President Metsola for the invitation to address the European Parliament, noting that the invitation
Ursula von der Leyen has declared herself an AI “optimist.” Yet in the face of rising warnings of the technology’s threats to humanity, the European Commission president today sounded far more like a realist — and one with limited room for maneuver. The EU chief used her annual State of the European Union address to confront rising panic about AI. What she said showed the limits on her power.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has pointed to Hungary as an example of how democratic backsliding can be reversed, saying the country has returned to the “heart of the European Union” following its April election. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has pointed to Hungary as a positive example during her speech in Strasbourg.
Arctic would be “flagship project” in proposed EU-Canada partnership, von der Leyen says www.rcinet.ca/eye-on-the-a... The Arctic would become a centrepiece of a proposed new partnership between Canada and the European Union, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday. “We will make the Arct...
By the way...we already have science, tech, research agreements where we can partner and gains EU funding for joint projects. For example: sensomagazine.ca/en/policy/ca... Mark Carney met with António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen at the G7 and announced new agreements between Canada and the European Union in the areas of defense and oceans.
@ vonderleyen Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu Ukrainians have proven countless times that their spirit cannot be broken. And this summer, Sasha has shown the whole world the true essence of this ↓ # UkraineWar https:// bsky.app/profile/vonderleyen.e c.europa.eu/post/3mvnggljlos2o
The State of the Union speech saw the Commission president outline what sound like grand plans for European security, but big questions remain unanswered.
Senior Baltic European Commissioners tell Euronews they are supportive of Ursula von der Leyen’s bold plans to turbocharge European defence, from a "painful" anti-hybrid warfare playbook to a new political security group.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s state-of-the-union speech offered few details on new trade measures targeting China, but its sharp tone was designed to send a message to Beijing, analysts said. During her speech on Wednesday, von der Leyen warned that a “second China shock” was already affecting Europe and vowed that Brussels would use all available tools to rebalance its trad
After Ursula von der Leyen's annual State of the Union speech, Euronews spoke to Commissioners Valdis Dombrovskis, Maroš Šefčovič, Wopke Hoekstra and Andrius Kubilius about what to expect following the President's address.
Seems Von der Leyen did another Von Der Leyen: https://www. politico.eu/article/ursula-von -der-leyen-blindside-eu-canada-associate-member-pitch/ Can Germany take her back?
The EU will provide Ukraine with €3.3 billion tomorrow for missiles and drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after speaking with Zelensky. The EU also agreed last week to finance Patriot systems under its loan supporting Ukraine. Von der Leyen said remaining SAFE funds could support new joint EU-Ukrainian defense projects, including the planned Freya air and missile defe
Ukraine is set to receive another €3.3 billion from the EU on Friday to procure more missiles and drones, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. https://www. reuters.com/world/eu-disburse- 33-billion-ukraine-procure-missiles-drones-von-der-leyen-says-2026-09-17/
In this episode, we debrief one of the key annual events in the EU calendar: the State of the Union speech. It was Ursula von der Leyen’s sixth such address as President of the European Commission, and the second State of the Union speech of her second mandate.
Ireland is managing a jam-packed agenda as the current holder of the rotating presidency of the EU. We caught up with the country’s Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, who was in Strasbourg for the 2026 State of the Union speech and debate with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. We discussed key points from that address, such as a proposed ban on social media access fo
❗️Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed Ukraine’s defense funding shortfall and potential solutions during a phone call. Zelensky backed a proposal to use remaining funds from the SAFE program for new joint defense projects between Ukraine and the EU, calling the initiative timely and necessary. The two leaders also discussed broader security proposals for Europ
ici.radio-canada.ca/rci/en/news/... The Arctic would become a centrepiece of a proposed new partnership between Canada and the European Union, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.