On 16 September, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her annual State of the Union (SOTEU) address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. While last year's speech was centered on the notion of a Europe under threat, this year's address takes that reality as a given and further develops the steps Europe must take to regain greater autonomy and strategic independence.
Defence, industrial policy, the Single Market, energy and trade were all reviewed through this lens. Von der Leyen presented a vision of a Europe that is increasingly capable of acting on its own and defending its interests in a more hostile geopolitical environment. Among the most surprising announcements were the proposal to establish a “European Article 4", an Emergency Security Protocol modelled on NATO's Article 4, and the suggestion that Canada could become the first-ever associate member of the European Union. However, no further details were provided on what this special membership would entail.
She also devoted considerable attention to climate change and artificial intelligence, describing them as the two “tipping points of our times”. While highlighting the potential of AI to benefit both Europe's economy and its citizens, she also stressed the risks it entails and the need to ensure that its development and use remain subject to meaningful human oversight.
In this context, she recalled that the Quality Jobs Act will be presented before the end of the year. The initiative is expected to address ongoing changes in the world of work, including the impact of artificial intelligence and algorithmic management, as well as issues such as mental health at work and the right to disconnect.
The President also referred to the forthcoming Care Deal, expected in 2027, which will set out measures to address the challenges facing the care sector and its workforce. Finally, she highlighted the upcoming tenth anniversary of the European Pillar of Social Rights in 2027 and announced that a dedicated summit will be held to mark the occasion.
Overall, the speech largely confirmed the policy direction pursued since the beginning of the mandate, with social initiatives playing a much more modest role than the Commission's economic, industrial and geopolitical priorities.
The full text of the speech in all languages is available here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/SPEECH_26_1868