Europe · updated 1h ago · 2 min read
Ursula Von Der Leyen Calls for EU Independence, Canada Associate Member Status in Strasbourg Address
Canada would become the European Union's first associated member. Von der Leyen urges European independence and sovereignty amid geopolitical pressures.
Whether to foreground institutional defence design or broader sovereignty ident….
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delano.lu
“The proposal to establish a European Security Council, designed to strengthen the EU’s capacity for consultation and action”Read the original ↗
POLITICO.eu
“for von der Leyen, "Europe" now means more than just the European Union.”Read the original ↗
delano.lu emphasises concrete EU defence institutions, while POLITICO stresses a broader sovereignty identity beyond the EU.
Independence as the theme
In her State of the Union address, Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that “Europe has chosen to forge its own path,” framing the EU’s push for “independence” as economic, militarily and technologically.
““Europe has chosen to forge its own path,” she said”
Politico.eu reported that von der Leyen said, “Europe has chosen to forge its own path,” while also adding that she wanted to make Canada “the first associate member of the EU” in a plan presented alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.P
BGNES said von der Leyen warned that “we are now dealing with an openly hostile world,” pointing to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, competition for industrial capacity and influence, battles over narratives, and the rapid development of technology.
Le Soir quoted von der Leyen stressing that “We find ourselves in a world that is openly hostile,” as she also called on Europe to “fight” against “ultranationalists” and “antieuropéens.”
Canada associate membership
Von der Leyen used the Strasbourg setting to propose a new relationship with Canada, with Politico.eu saying she wanted to make Canada “the first associate member of the EU” and to bring the relationship “to the highest possible level.”
Table.Briefings described the State of the EU address as a familiar assessment while noting that “negotiations with Beijing continue,” and that the European Commission was keeping open what it might pull from the toolbox if no agreement is reached.
Touteleurope.eu said von der Leyen addressed Mark Carney directly to “work” toward Canada becoming the EU’s first “associate member,” while also noting that this status “does not exist today in European treaties.”
Le Soir quoted von der Leyen telling Carney, “We want to elevate relations with Canada to the highest possible level (…) I would therefore like to work with you on the possibility for Canada to become the EU’s first associated member,” and described it as a partnership “not aimed against anyone.”
China, climate, and AI
On China, La Tribune said von der Leyen estimated the EU’s goods trade deficit with China at “1 billion euros per day” and promised to use available tools, while also quoting her line that “Talking is fine. Acting is better.”
““Talking is fine. Acting is better.””
BGNES reported that von der Leyen warned the EU’s trade deficit with China had reached €1 billion a day and called it “unsustainable,” saying it “leads to deindustrialisation in the industrial heartlands of Europe.”
On climate and AI, Politico.eu said von der Leyen warned that artificial intelligence and climate change presented existential risks, and it quoted her describing AI as something that “will soon be in the hands of adversaries who see the world very differently to us.”P
Le Soir added that von der Leyen estimated climate change and artificial intelligence were “tipping points of our era,” and it quoted her promise to present “a European plan to combat heat waves” after the record heat of the summer.