Von der Leyen calls for stronger defense and economic independence in State of the Union address

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Posted Sep 23, 2026, 06:30 AM UTC · In the digest of 2026-09-23-0630
Von der Leyen calls for stronger defense and economic independence in State of the Union address
Photo: Index

Ursula von der Leyen delivered her sixth State of the Union address, urging the EU to build a new security architecture and boost economic competitiveness.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her sixth State of the Union address in Brussels, outlining key priorities for the European Union amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.

Addressing lawmakers, Von der Leyen advocated for a "new European security architecture" to enhance defense capabilities, strengthen self-reliance, and diminish economic dependencies on global powers like China and the United States. She emphasized the necessity of expanding the bloc's defense industry and reforming migration policies.

Highlighting internal economic goals, she stressed that Europe must become "a place where it is easy to do business, easy to invest and easy to scale up." Her address also called for urgent climate adaptation measures following recent extreme weather events across the continent.

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Index, Poslovni dnevnik

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