MEPs debate the State of the Union: economy, security, climate, AI

In the annual State of the Union debate, MEPs and President von der Leyen discussed the Commission's work over the past year and the most pressing challenges facing the EU. Opening the debate, Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: "Our Union has always moved forward because people were willing to take a leap when the moment demanded it, and turn uncertainty into possibility. Citizens expect a Union that does more to protect them, support them and fight for them — on security, competitiveness, affordable housing, quality jobs, climate and borders. They want a Europe that stands proudly on its own two feet and defends its values. This is the time for courage, ambition and results." "The state of our Union is the strongest it has ever been. But the state of our Union can also feel as precarious as it has ever been," said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She said reviving Europe's economy is our number one priority, pointing to the "One Europe, One Market" roadmap and saying that by the end of next year "we can and must complete this historic overhaul of the single market." "Our future prosperity and security will depend to a large extent on how we manage the tipping points of our times: climate change and artificial intelligence," she said, stressing that "Europe can, must and will stay on track to meet its climate goals." Von der Leyen announced a new climate resilience framework to be presented by the Commission, a Climate Risk Insurance Alliance, a European Heatwave Preparedness Plan and a European Water Initiative. On artificial intelligence, Ursula von der Leyen said Europe needs to massively increase its computing capacity and develop new ways of using public and private funds to invest in Europe's most promising start-ups and companies. Industrial AI has the greatest potential in health, transport, agri-food, advanced manufacturing, defence and space, she said, announcing that the Commission will soon present "breakthrough initiatives in these sectors." Speaking about the international rules-based system coming under strain, the Commission President said "we urgently need to reimagine our partnerships." Addressing Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney directly, who was in the chamber, she said: "I would like to work with you to pave the way for Canada to become the first associate member of the EU." On security and the hybrid threats facing Europe, von der Leyen said Europe needs an emergency security protocol to coordinate the European response, deter further escalation and mitigate its impact. Given the nature and scale of the risks at stake, she announced that the Commission will present ideas "to make a European security council a reality." On Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, she reiterated the EU's unwavering support for Ukraine and said the EU will tighten its sanctions against Russia. Referring to the events in Ceuta over the summer, von der Leyen said "the border in Ceuta is a European border. Because Ceuta is Spain. Ceuta is Europe. And Europe will stand by you." She also highlighted a 55% drop in irregular arrivals over the past two years, with a further 35% decrease this year. "Europe's message is clear: we will always uphold our values and fundamental rights. But we will never compromise on defending our borders." On social media platforms, von der Leyen announced she will propose an EU law tomorrow (the EU KIDS Act). "No social media before the age of 13. No personal account before the age of 15... From 13 to 15, children will only have access to mini-accounts created and supervised by parents, with restricted features and usage limited to one hour a day. And for users aged 15 to 18, platforms will be required to apply safe-by-design measures." "Europe has the power to act. We decide our own rules, not Big Tech," von der Leyen said. Political group interventions Manfred Weber (EPP, Germany) said Europe is being hit by three major shocks: rapid technological change driven by artificial intelligence, a profound geopolitical shift, and growing economic insecurity reflected in industrial job losses. He argued Europe's response must be based on listening to citizens rather than lecturing them, and on pursuing pragmatic policies, including on climate and the car industry. He backed President von der Leyen's proposal to strengthen child protection online and called for much closer European cooperation on defence, including a single market for weapons, joint command structures, drones and satellites. On the economy, Weber called for stronger investment in AI and competitiveness and voiced support for a solid long-term EU budget. Trade agreements such as CETA are not just about market access but also about building alliances in a changing world order, he added. Iratxe García (S&D, Spain) called on the EU "to show courage" in fighting climate change and to end dependence on fossil fuels from autocratic regimes. The European project "will not survive if our citizens cannot live with dignity," she said, calling for the adoption of the affordable housing law as well as quality jobs legislation. García called for a guarantee for women's rights. She also insisted that the EU's borders must be defended "without abandoning our values." She called for the suspension of the EU-Israel association agreements and the confiscation of frozen Russian assets. On the EU budget, she stressed that "we cannot do more with less." García concluded that "21st-century Europe will only be possible if pro-European forces work together, without looking to the far right." "There are now, in 2026, two Europes," said Jordan Bardella (PfE, France). "There is the Europe of those who write the rules, of bureaucrats who squander public money and invent tomorrow's taxes (...) and then there is the Europe of those who have to pay." He denounced, through the ETS2 legislation, "the unbearable blow to the middle class and working class" and added that Europe "protects less and less," pointing to the situation in Ceuta. "The peoples of Europe are waiting for one thing: for the EU to protect its borders," he said. On economic policy, Bardella denounced the "great European paradox": "We regulate what we no longer know how to produce and import what we've been banned from producing (...); let's finally embrace European preference in public procurement," he said. Patryk Jaki (ECR, Poland) said excessive EU bureaucracy continues to hold back economic growth and innovation. He called for measures to protect citizens and businesses from rising energy prices, including by revising green policies which, in his view, raise costs and hamper competitiveness. On migration, Jaki called for stricter enforcement of existing rules and more resources for managing and protecting the EU's borders. He also criticised plans to restrict young people's access to social media platforms, arguing that young people need greater economic stability, quality jobs and decent living conditions rather than restrictions on their online and offline freedom. Valerie Hayer (Renew, France) called for a new vision for the European Union and for pro-European radicalism. She called for a European law on climate resilience and risk management, as well as investment in innovation and taking a global leadership position on an AI legal framework. Europe must strongly oppose Russia and continue to support Ukraine, she said. The EU must expand its sphere of influence and become a safe haven for the world's democracies, Hayer added. She closed by calling for an ambitious budget that benefits citizens. Terry Reintke (Greens, Germany) stressed that Europe is already in a climate emergency and accused EU leaders of failing to respond adequately to this summer's wildfires, heatwaves and heat-related deaths. She criticised efforts to weaken the Green Deal and announced her group will call for a committee of inquiry into shortcomings in enforcing already-agreed EU climate legislation. Reintke called for a clear timeline for phasing out fossil fuels, a windfall tax to make polluters pay, and a properly funded climate adaptation plan in the next EU budget. She called on Europe to act with more confidence against what she described as powerful adversaries, including Donald Trump, tech oligarchs and Vladimir Putin. "A full tank of petrol is already over 100 euros, and millions of people have to choose between eating, housing and getting around," said Manon Aubry (The Left, France). She called for a price freeze and a "windfall tax on oil companies' superprofits." Aubry denounced the Commission's "vast deregulation agenda." "You prefer a scorched-earth policy that treats ecology as the enemy, rather than a deep transformation of economic models," she said. Aubry criticised the lack of a "democratic and popular mandate" for setting up a European security council and a special relationship with Canada. She also denounced the absence of sanctions against Israel and the failure to suspend the association agreement in response to the situation in the Gaza Strip. René Aust (ESN, Germany) described the state of the Union as one of lost borders and lost competitiveness. He said that during a seven-week attack on the EU's borders, the situation was dire but nothing was done, and that Europe is not a fortress. He called for less bureaucracy and unnecessary administration, saying the opposite had been done. Aust welcomed the fact that patriotic parties are gaining ground in Europe and are working to achieve "the Europe we all want."