OMM Newsroom
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will stress in her annual address to the European Parliament that challenges such as climate change, artificial intelligence and competition with China can be addressed only through solidarity among European Union countries.
Her speech in Strasbourg on Wednesday will set out the priorities for the 27-member bloc over the coming year. Von der Leyen is expected to highlight the importance of Europe maintaining its strategic autonomy in areas including energy, raw materials and clean technologies.
Cooperation with Canada
According to European Commission officials, achieving this goal will require not only joint action by EU countries but also strong partners. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to visit Strasbourg and address the European Parliament on Thursday, Sept. 17.
Von der Leyen is expected to say that Canada cannot join the EU, but that Brussels wants to bring the country as close to the bloc as possible. Canada could help the EU reduce its dependence on China for raw materials and their processing.
The Commission president may voice support for talks aimed at reducing the EU’s unsustainable trade deficit with China, which reaches 1 billion euros a day. She may stress that the talks must produce results in the short term, otherwise the EU will take further steps to protect its economy.
Climate and artificial intelligence on the agenda
Officials said von der Leyen would note that Europe is experiencing the effects of climate change more severely than other continents. Against the backdrop of unprecedented heatwaves and wildfires observed across the continent over the past three months, the EU must continue its ambitious policies to combat climate change while strengthening adaptation measures.
Her address is also expected to address public concerns about the risks artificial intelligence poses to jobs and cybersecurity, as well as the need to ensure that the European economy benefits from the technology.
Migration and border security
Von der Leyen will also discuss migration and border security in the EU. Officials said lessons from crises such as the incidents in the city of Ceuta at the end of July could be considered, along with a possible expansion of the role played by the EU border agency Frontex.
The annual address is a key opportunity for the European Commission president to present the bloc’s policy priorities and seek support from lawmakers. It comes as EU institutions face pressure to strengthen economic resilience, manage irregular migration and coordinate responses to global technological and environmental challenges.
