EditIn annual ritual, von der Leyen urges EU independence amid global crises
With rising domestic populism and a challenging global landscape, the Commission President’s ambitions face a critical test of political will
In her State of the European Union (SOTEU) address on 10 September in Strasbourg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged a fractured EU to seize its “independence moment” in the face of Russian aggression, humanitarian crises, and economic challenges.
Speaking hours after Russian Shahed drones violated Polish airspace, she outlined ambitious plans for new sanctions on Russia, a partial suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and economic reforms to boost competitiveness.
The State of the European Union (SOTEU) address is an annual speech delivered by the European Commission President to the European Parliament, outlining the EU’s priorities, challenges, and vision for the coming year. The SOTEU ritual speech draws significant inspiration from U.S. political traditions.
While her speech aimed to rally the EU around unity and resilience, it faces hurdles in a divided Union, with muted reactions from key EU institutions signalling caution.
A continent under pressure
Von der Leyen opened with a stark warning: “Europe is in a fight.” She described a world where imperial ambitions and weaponized dependencies threaten European interests, framing the EU as a peace project forced to adapt.
“This must be Europe’s Independence Moment,” she declared, emphasizing self-reliance in defence, technology, and economic policy. The violation of Polish airspace by over 10 Russian drones underscored her urgency, prompting her to pledge “full solidarity with Poland” and propose a 19th sanctions package targeting Russia’s fossil fuel imports, shadow fleet, and third-country enablers.
Supporting Ukraine
Her commitment to Ukraine was unwavering. Von der Leyen shared the story of Sasha, an 11-year-old Ukrainian boy separated from his mother in a Russian “filtration camp,” announcing a Summit for the Return of Ukrainian Children. She proposed a “Reparations Loan” funded by frozen Russian assets and a “Qualitative Military Edge” program to enhance Ukraine’s drone warfare capabilities, reinforcing the EU’s role in countering Russia’s invasion.
Gaza’s humanitarian crisis
Addressing Gaza’s “man-made famine,” von der Leyen proposed partially suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement’s trade provisions, a move backed by Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia but opposed by Germany, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
“We will propose sanctions on the extremist ministers and on violent settlers. And we will also propose a partial suspension of the Association Agreement on trade-related matters,” she said.
She acknowledged the difficulty of finding consensus, saying, “Any action will be too much for some, too little for others.” Additional sanctions on extremist Israeli ministers and settlers, alongside a Palestine Donor Group for Gaza’s reconstruction, aim to address the crisis while trying to overcome EU divisions.
Economic and technological sovereignty
Von der Leyen’s economic agenda drew from the Draghi and Letta reports, proposing a “Competitiveness Fund,” a doubled Horizon Europe budget, and a “Scaleup Europe Fund” for AI, quantum, and biotech startups.
A “made in Europe” public procurement criterion, Battery Booster package, and Circular Economy Act target industrial self-reliance. To address affordability, she introduced an Anti-Poverty Strategy, an Affordable Housing Plan, and support for small electric vehicles, linking competitiveness to jobs and social stability.
Defending democracy
Von der Leyen highlighted the European Democracy Shield initiative and the Media Resilience Programme to combat disinformation and “news deserts,” alongside a panel to explore social media restrictions for children, inspired by Australia.
“Parents, not algorithms, should raise our children,” she said, addressing concerns about democratic erosion ahead of member state elections.
Mixed responses
In the European Parliament, reactions were mixed. Valerie Hayer of the Renew group praised von der Leyen’s focus on democracy but criticized the EU’s disunity on Gaza, calling it “a shame for Gazans, Israelis’ security, and our youth’s values.” She urged bolder action to restore credibility and pushed for a “more federal Europe” to end Council unanimity, declaring, “Weakness is a choice, and it is not ours.”
Other MEPs, particularly from Hungary-aligned groups, expressed scepticism about the Israel proposal, citing risks to EU cohesion.
During the debate in plenary, Iratxe García, president of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, criticised von der Leyen for leaving Europe and its citizens behind and called for a set of game-changing external and internal policy initiatives for 2026.
Analysts offered cautious support. Tiago Antunes of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) endorsed the defence focus but stressed the need for “extraordinary powers” to counter hybrid threats, like the Polish airspace violation. Agathe Demarais, ECFR senior policy fellow, praised the sanctions strategy but warned that effectiveness hinges on closing third-country loopholes. On Gaza, Hugh Lovatt called the trade suspension “belated but important,” though he criticized the lack of action on Israeli settlement trade bans. Giorgos Verdi supported the “made in Europe” criteria but cautioned that reliance on U.S. technology could undermine AI ambitions without a clear counter to export controls.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Wednesday that von der Leyen’s comments were “regrettable”, adding that the president is aware of Israel’s efforts to assist humanitarian aid and that suffering in Gaza is due to Hamas.
“The President of the Commission errs in yielding to the pressures of elements that seek to undermine Israel–Europe relations,” the minister wrote in a post on social media platform X.
Caption: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gestures as she addresses a ‘State of the Union’ debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, 10 September 2025. The current plenary session runs from 8 until 11 September 2025. EPA/RONALD WITTEK
Updated: September 10, 2025 - 15:46
