Details of a new
2026 State of the Union address delivered by President von der Leyen
President Metsola,
Prime Minister Carney,
Honourable Members,
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." With these words, Charles Dickens described Europe during the French Revolution—words that also offer a faithful description of the world we live in today. The pace of change is dizzying. The challenges are exceptional. So, as I look at Europe today, I present my vision of the situation: the state of our Union is the strongest it has ever been. At the same time, we sometimes feel that the state of our Union is the most precarious in its history.
These two statements may seem incompatible. Yet both are true. And they reflect this exceptional moment—this complex era of great possibilities and great dangers, in which every country is charting its own course.
In this world, Europe has chosen to forge its own path. And now, a stronger Europe is emerging. An independent Europe.
A Europe that is securing its prosperity. That is freeing itself from its toxic dependence on Russian fossil fuels. That has become the planet's leading trading power. That is transforming its industrial policy while steadfastly upholding our unique social model.
A Europe that is more capable than ever of defending itself. That has radically rethought its approach to protecting our homelands. That, in just the last five years, has increased defence spending by nearly 80%.
A Europe where we stand up for one another. Just as we stand with Ukraine in its fight for its future and our freedom. Or when we supported Greenland when it was under threat. Or when drones, hybrid attacks, or disinformation loom over our democracies.
All this demonstrates one thing: that Europe never abandons Europeans. And that, amidst the cold fragility of today's world, only Europe can offer true sovereignty to Europeans.
And so, Honourable Members, this is a Europe of which we can be immensely proud. At the same time, we are all aware of the threats we face. As everything we took for granted fades away and traditional relationships deteriorate, we now find ourselves facing an openly hostile world. A war of territorial aggression is raging on our continent; others have broken out in our neighborhood. The struggle for industrial capacity is shaping global competition. And a battle of narratives seeks to undermine confidence in Europe and paralyze our democracies.
But citizens' concerns stem from more than just these major global threats. The effects of numerous crises are being felt by many European families, particularly regarding the cost of living and housing. The dizzying pace of change and technological advancement is affecting our jobs, our livelihoods, and our society. Moreover, it is having profound repercussions on our democracy and our public discourse.
We see this in the rise of extremism, the loss of nuance, and even in the way we relate to one another.
These very real concerns are being weaponized to drive a wedge between us—sometimes from the outside, and—all too often—from within. Yet our path is clear: to build an independent Europe capable of acting. Nothing can divert us from this course. For in this world, Europe’s destiny must remain in European hands.
Our choice, therefore, is clear. Do we want a strong, independent Europe that stands up for its values in this world? Or do we allow ourselves to be held back by divisions and dependencies? Do we want to rally around the European ideal that, together, we can determine our own destiny? Or do we let our democracies be undermined by the henchmen and puppets of authoritarian regimes?
Whether it is ultra-nationalists or anti-Europeans, Russian interference or disinformation—the names may differ. The names may change, but the goal remains the same. They scorn our values and seek to shatter our European unity. Let us, therefore, fight against all this; let us also fight, together, for our European vision.
Honourable Members:
Our economy has withstood the repercussions of the wars in the Middle East better than expected, and unemployment is at historic lows. However, pressures stemming from rising energy prices and borrowing costs are weighing heavily on both households and businesses.
Clear fiscal policy decisions will need to be taken to ensure the sustainability of public finances while safeguarding investment. Our top priority, therefore, is to revitalize the European economy.
We have at our disposal...