An extremely intense plenary session (8-11 September) of the European Parliament will be opening in Strasbourg this afternoon. The highlight will be on Wednesday morning, when the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will give her first State of the European Union address since being re-elected. The address to the MEPs will take place at a very troubled time for the EU, amidst wars, tariffs, increasing nationalism in the member states (France’s political situation is being carefully watched today). Von der Leyen’s position seems to be further weakened because of some political trends that the member states and the European Parliament, for some reason or other, are not happy with: they include the rearmament, the response to the Ukrainian and Middle Eastern crises, the multiannual budget, the Green Deal, migration. So, on Wednesday at 9.00am, the president of the European Commission will give her keynote address, which will be followed by a debate with the MEPs. “In her address, von der Leyen is expected to outline the impact of the Commission’s work since it started its new mandate, and plans for the future”, the Assembly’s press office stated. “She is set to focus on the global challenges the EU is facing, including EU-US relations, the EU’s continued support for Ukraine in its war against Russia’s aggression, European defence and security, sustainable prosperity and competitiveness, the EU’s twin green and digital transition, and how to protect democracy and core EU values”.