Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, described the institution as being on the brink of a fundamental change in her annual State of the Union address. In this speech delivered on Wednesday, she pointed to various challenges facing the European Union, including trade with China, climate change, and artificial intelligence.
Current Situation and Challenges
Von der Leyen stated that the European Union is experiencing "its strongest period," while also warning that the institution may be "as fragile as it has ever been." Analyses indicate that the topics raised in this speech included Ukraine, security threats, energy prices, and challenges related to artificial intelligence. Additionally, the adverse weather conditions of last summer and pressures on the EU's external borders were also emphasized.
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Summer of Truth
Von der Leyen referred to last summer as the "summer of truth," a time when the European Union faced Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, increased migration to Spanish territory, and devastating wildfires and droughts. She emphasized that "we must prevent a repeat of this summer." This speech reflects major changes in the topics discussed compared to previous years.
Comparing this speech to those of previous years shows that key topics have changed year by year. From the Greek debt crisis and increased migration in 2015 under the leadership of Jean-Claude Juncker, to the Green Deal in 2020 at the start of von der Leyen's first term, and now the focus is shifting to Russia, Ukraine, energy, security, and defense.
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