Von der Leyen delivers State of the Union address

In brief

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, to discuss the state of the Union. During her speech, von der Leyen identified growing threats to Europe and stated that the level of protection the region receives will depend on its cohesion.

The president highlighted several key issues, including the war between Russia and Ukraine, climate change, relations with China, and migration. She also addressed the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and announced that the Kids Act will be presented tomorrow to ban social media use for children under 13.