Von der Leyen attempts to get back on track: “This is a fight for our future”

“A stark appraisal.” The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, thus remarked about her own speech in the European Parliament chamber in Strasbourg.  Her State of the Union address, the first of her second five-year mandate, comes at a tense and delicate moment, marked by external pressures on the EU — conflicts, tariffs and new anti-Western alliances — alongside internal divisions between pro-European and sovereignist governments and parties, which are weakening European unity. All of this is driving up the level of criticism of Von der Leyen herself, widely viewed as lacking in strength, decisiveness and ability to respond swiftly. Thus, at least in words, the Commission President appears to want to turn the tide and convince the European Parliament and the Member States by demonstrating decisive resolve. In the chamber, her speech appears to be an attempt to regain the ‘Ursula majority’ (the People's Party, the Social Democrats, the Liberals, and possibly the Greens), which seemingly eroded over the last year..

“Europe must fight.” In her lengthy State of the Union address on Wednesday, 10 September, Von der Leyen addressed a variety of issues, albeit with an unclear logical progression. Starting with security, she moved on to the economy, research, the automotive sector, housing, and migration. However, her opening remarks were indeed a “stark appraisal”. “Europe is in a fight. A fight for a continent that is whole and at peace. For a free and independent Europe. A fight for our values and our democracies. A fight for our liberty and our ability to determine our destiny for ourselves. Make no mistake – this is a fight for our future.” She points out that the Union “is fundamentally a peace project.” However, “the truth is that the world of today is unforgiving. And we cannot varnish over the difficulties that Europeans feel every day. They can feel the ground shift beneath them. They can feel things getting harder just as they are working harder. They can feel the impact of the global crisis. Of the higher cost of living. And they worry about the endless spiral of events they see on the news – from the devastating scenes in Gaza to the relentless Russian barrage on Ukraine. We simply cannot wait for this storm to pass. Battlelines for a new world order based on power are being drawn right now. So, yes, Europe must fight for its place in a world.”

Could there be a prevailing feeling of encirclement?



Unity between pro-European forces. “The central question for us today is a simple one. Does Europe have the stomach for this fight? Do we have the unity and the sense of urgency? In my eyes the choice is clear. So my pitch today is a pitch for unity”, urges Ursula von der Leyen. Her speech ultimately received a dozen rounds of applause and a couple of standing ovations from the chamber. However, it was also interrupted several times by Eurosceptic political groups, with many far-right lawmakers absent. Von der Leyen called for “unity between member states, unity between EU institutions”, and "unity between the pro-European democratic forces in this house.”

The finger is pointed at Putin. An intense paragraph on Ukraine: “ust last week 26 countries in the Coalition of the Willing said they were ready to be part of a reassurance force in Ukraine or participate financially – in the context of a ceasefire. We will continue to support all diplomatic efforts to end this war. But we have all seen what Russia means by “diplomacy.” Putin refuses to meet President Zelenskyy. We need more pressure on Russia to come to the negotiating table.” Von der Leyen does not beat around the bush: “This is Russia's war. And it is Russia that should pay.” Thus the need to work out new ways to provide Ukraine with financial, humanitarian and military support.  “We will propose a new programme that we call  Qualitative Military Edge. It will support investment in the capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces.” Von der Leyen thus set out her vision of a war economy, backed by several national governments and supported by a majority of MEPs, albeit amid strong opposition. “Europe will defend every inch of its territory”, she remarked decisevely, adding that new common defense projects are in the pipeline.

Gaza and Israel. “What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world. People killed while begging for food. Mothers holding lifeless babies. These images are simply catastrophic.” Von der Leyen has at last managed to take a stance on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. “We will put our bilateral support to Israel on hold. We will stop all payments in these areas - without affecting our work with Israeli civil society or Yad Vashem.” This is followed by the intention to set up a Palestine Donor Group, including a dedicated instrument for Gaza reconstruction. She goes on a personal note: “I am a long-standing friend of the people of Israel. I know how much the atrocious attacks on 7 October by Hamas terrorists shook the nation to its core. The hostages have now been held captive by Hamas terrorists for more than 700 days since 7 October. That is 700 days of pain and suffering. There can never by any place for Hamas – neither now, nor in the future. Because they are terrorists who want to destroy Israel.” Europe's goal “has always been the same: real security for Israel and a safe present and future for all Palestinians.” In the longer terms, she says, the “only realistic plan is based on two States.”

Economy, Draghi, Letta. The economy is certainly not the focus of the speech and her arguments on the tariff issue do not convince the chamber. However, Von der Leyen does touch on relevant topics, such as the single market, the social market economy and investment in digital and clean technologies. She refers to recommendations and associated commitments relating to the Draghi (competitiveness) and Letta (single market) reports. She then delves into the subject of artificial intelligence, “Quantum Sandbox”, Clean Industrial Deal, energy,  electic vehicles, agricolture, food. She calls for an “European Anti-Poverty Strategy.” The housing issue remains on the table, an area of particular focus for her Commission. She announces a commitment to build new houses and student residences, as well as a legal initiative on short-term rentals.



Freedom, reforms… Finally, a highbrow paragraph: “Europe's independence is about protecting our freedoms. The freedom to decide. To speak out. To move around a whole continent. The freedom to vote. To love. To pray. To live in a Union of equality.” Hence the respect for the Rule of Law (Da qui il rispetto dello Stato di diritto (including in the allocation of EU funds), funding for media and free journalism (“the backbone of any democracy”), and the launch of a new Media Resilience Progamme. By contrast, the chapter on migration remains weak, with a focus on repatriation and border security, and the long-promised fight against human traffickers. There is no mention of reception and integration for those fleeing hunger, war and climate change, and the Green Deal seems to have been forgotten. Finally, reforms are proposed to enhance the effectiveness of EU action, including the right of legislative initiative of the European Parliament and the abolition of unanimity in the EU Council, where the Member States sit. However, these are issues over which the Commission essentially has no jurisdiction.Gianni Borsa