This is Ursula von der Leyen’s sixth annual speech. The speech began shortly after 10 o’clock Vilnius time.
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Leyen warned China
10:38
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the European Union will use all available means to balance relations with China.
She said that trade negotiations with China must yield results.
“Our trade deficit with China now amounts to one billion euros per day. We have reached a breaking point,” U. von der Leyen said in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
European Commission head calls to push back ultranationalists
10:35
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged the European Union to push back against “ultranationalists and anti-European forces.”
“Will we allow our democracies to be destroyed by puppets and marionettes of authoritarian regimes?” U. von der Leyen asked in her speech in Strasbourg.
“They despise our values and want to destroy European unity. So not only should we push back – together we must fight for our European idea,” she said.
Leyen wants new common European taxes
10:32
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called in her speech to approve new taxes applied across the entire European Union that would help finance the next common seven-year EU budget.
“I want to say very clearly: our budget is our future. And every modern budget needs new own resources,” she said in her speech.
“Own resources” in European bureaucracy means new common taxes.
Many member states currently do not support the European Commission’s initiative to introduce new common taxes.
European Parliament promises to demand answers from Leyen
10:13
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola says that MEPs will demand answers from the Commission President.
Before the speech, speaking briefly to journalists, Metsola called it an important day for the European Union.
According to her, MEPs will “ask questions and demand answers” from U. von der Leyen, focusing mainly on competitiveness, security, climate policy, and social protection.
The European Parliament President noted that there is still too much division among EU member states, as well as between cities and rural areas.
She also said she is proud to welcome Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to the European Parliament.
“From these chambers, we send a message about Europe as a geopolitical actor. We want to establish and strengthen relations with friends around the world,” Metsola said.
Special attention expected for Canada
09:15
While Ursula von der Leyen is speaking, a special guest will listen in Strasbourg – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
According to sources, the annual speech should pay significant attention to EU-Canada relations.
“U. von der Leyen will likely emphasize that although Canada cannot become a member of the European Union, the EU wants to bring it as close as possible to the Community because Canada nurtures the same values as Europe and could help the EU reduce dependence on Chinese raw materials,” reports the news agency Reuters.
Mark Carney recently called Canada “the most European non-European country.” He hopes that closer ties with the European Union can reduce dependence on the conflict-prone United States.
AFP: Leyen to announce restrictions for children online
08:57
Ursula von der Leyen is expected to present plans to protect children from harm online – children under 15 would have restricted access to social networks, video sharing platforms, games, and AI chatbots.
The news agency AFP reports that the draft EU document foresees the following rules:
- Teenagers aged 15 and over could create their own accounts on social networks, AI, and gaming platforms.
- Children aged 13–14 could have “introductory” accounts on such platforms, created and controlled by parents, with limited functions and strict usage time limits.
- Children aged 3–12 could only use “fully parent-controlled accounts on child-appropriate services,” which would be subject to strict safety standards.
If platforms violate the rules, they could face fines of up to 6% of annual turnover.
What to expect in the speech?
08:44
The content of the speech is kept secret until it is read in the European Parliament. Different parties actively try to include their priorities and important projects in the speech.
Observers are confident that the speech will mention artificial intelligence, climate change, the fires that ravaged Europe this summer, child protection online, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and tensions in international trade.
Last year in the annual speech, Leyen said that Europe must assert its independence amid rising tensions due to confrontational US trade policy.
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