Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, presented a set of proposals in her State of the Union speech in Strasbourg to better prepare Europe against global threats, including hot summers, hybrid wars, and migration crises.
Establishing Cooperation with Canada
One of the biggest surprises in this speech was von der Leyen's proposal to make Canada the first "associated member" of the European Union. She directly referred to Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada, who was present in Parliament, and proposed a new and broad alliance in the fields of technology, defense, energy, and artificial intelligence.
In this context, von der Leyen stated: "This is not a partnership against anyone, but for our mutual strengthening." This proposal reflects Brussels' willingness to deepen relations with Ottawa, although it remains unclear whether EU member states will agree to this model of cooperation.
Establishing a European Security Council
Von der Leyen also referred to the necessity of establishing a European Security Council, stating that this council could bring together like-minded countries, including the UK, Canada, Ukraine, and Norway, to discuss threats. She also announced an "emergency security protocol" that EU countries could activate to respond to threats before an attack or invasion occurs.
The Commission President also mentioned inviting major artificial intelligence labs to Brussels to discuss the risks and opportunities of AI, stating: "Without addressing these risks, we will never be able to unleash the potential of artificial intelligence."
Regarding security and defense issues, von der Leyen pointed to the financial challenges arising from the EU's €150 billion defense loan program, stating that this program could help integrate Ukraine's wartime experiences with Europe's defense industry.
Von der Leyen's climate messages were more focused on preparing for the worst-case scenarios rather than a new reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. She emphasized the need to create new programs to combat heat and drought, as well as launching a "pact against excessive regulations."
Von der Leyen also referred to the existing problems in Gaza and the uncontrollable violence in the West Bank, stating that Europe must keep the two-state solution alive. She described the lack of agreement among member states on some of the actions promised last year as painful.
In conclusion, she referred to the pressure on national governments to establish new EU taxes, stating that these taxes are essential for funding the next seven years of the Union.
Von der Leyen's speech clearly highlights the challenges facing the European Union in terms of security, climate, and financial policies, and underscores the need for greater unity and cooperation among member states.
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