Von der Leyen: EU's position is strongest yet most precarious it has ever been

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, delivering her annual State of the Union address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, said the EU is simultaneously in its strongest and most precarious position ever. She quoted Charles Dickens's description of "the best of times, the worst of times," stressing the extraordinary pace of change in today's world.

Warning over a hostile world

Von der Leyen said the EU is now dealing with an openly hostile external environment — a war in Ukraine, a fight over industrial capacity and narratives, and rapid technological change. She warned against Russian interference, disinformation, and ultranationalist, anti-European forces, calling on member states to unite in defending European values.

Climate and trade

On climate, she described this summer as "the summer of truth," citing 660,000 hectares burned, around 12 million tonnes of crops lost, and more than 35,000 excess deaths. Next month the EU will unveil new proposals on climate resilience and heatwave preparedness. She also flagged the EU's trade relationship with China, where the trade deficit has reached €1bn a day, calling the situation unsustainable and pledging to use all available tools to rebalance it.

Energy and artificial intelligence

Von der Leyen called for Europe to "electrify" itself to cut dependence on fossil fuel imports and lower energy prices. On artificial intelligence, she stressed the EU wants to develop the technology responsibly while keeping human agency at its core — for instance, in healthcare, AI should empower doctors rather than replace them.

During the address, she also paid tribute to 46-year-old Danish pilot Rune Kyndal, who died fighting wildfires in Greece in July, prompting a standing ovation from parliament.