Europe must fight for its future, von der Leyen tells MEPs
Europe must fight for its future in "a world of imperial ambitions and imperial wars," Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament in her annual State of the Union address on Wednesday.
Addressing MEPs in Strasbourg, von der Leyen painted a bleak picture of the current state of the world. Although the EU is fundamentally a peace project, "the truth is that the world today is unforgiving", she said. "Battle lines for a new world order based on power are being drawn right now. So, yes, Europe must fight."
"This is Russia's war. And it is Russia that should pay”
In her comments on the war in Ukraine, she called for tougher sanctions against Moscow, including a 19th package aimed at reducing the EU's reliance on Russian fossil fuels.
The Commission also plans to use the interest from frozen Russian assets to provide Ukraine with a new "reparations loan". "This is Russia's war. And it is Russia that should pay,” she said.
"Every abducted child must be returned"
Von der Leyen also announced an international summit on the return of Ukrainian children, thousands of whom have been forcibly transferred to Russia. "Every abducted child must be returned," she said.
Drone wall
The Commission president called the entry of Russian drones into Polish airspace on Tuesday night a "reckless and unprecedented violation of Poland's and Europe's airspace", and announced investments to "build a drone wall".
"Europe will defend every inch of its territory," von der Leyen said. A European semester of defence will be created to monitor member states' progress towards their 2030 defence targets.
In her highly anticipated comments on the war in Gaza, she announced that the European Commission would propose the partial suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, as well as sanctions on extremist Israeli ministers and violent settlers.
Digital and clean tech
Moving on from geopolitical issues, von der Leyen announced plans to "massively invest" in digital and clean technologies. Specifically, the Commission is set to establish a 1.8 billion euro fund to support the production of European batteries.
Von der Leyen insisted that Europe had secured the "best possible deal" with the United States
She also addressed the trade agreement with the United States agreed this summer, a move which left many European leaders reeling. Recognising the critical response to the deal, which centres on a 15 per cent baseline tariff, she insisted that Europe had secured the "best possible deal" and emphasised that millions of European jobs depend on trade with the US.
Turning to climate issues, von der Leyen called for environmental goals to be met while supporting European industry. She also addressed the housing crisis, migration and return policy, as well as the fires that ravaged the continent this summer. She concluded her speech by calling for Europe to "break free from the shackles of unanimity" to enable the Union to act more quickly.
© PHOTO SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP
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