On 16 September 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered the 2026 State of the European Union Address before the European Parliament in Strasbourg (“Address”). The Address reviewed the EU’s achievements over the previous year and outlined priorities aimed at building a stronger, safer and more independent Europe. ITs full wording is available at this link.

A central theme of the Address was Europe’s capacity to act independently in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment. Over the previous year, the Commission focused on strengthening competitiveness, reducing strategic dependencies, improving European defence capabilities, supporting Ukraine and expanding global partnerships.

In the area of security and defence, the EU built on the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030, which includes flagship projects such as the Eastern Flank Watch, the European Drone Defence Initiative, the European Air Shield and the European Space Shield. The EU is also developing military mobility measures to facilitate the movement of troops, equipment and other defence assets across Member States.

The Address also highlighted the importance of democratic resilience and a strong civil society. The European Democracy Shield and the EU Civil Society Strategy are intended to encourage public participation, support civil society organisations and strengthen the resilience of democratic institutions across the EU.

Another key priority is the development of a competitive and prosperous European economy capable of responding to technological change, supporting innovation and reducing dependence on third countries for strategic technologies, raw materials and other critical inputs. The EU also intends to expand international partnerships and reinforce its position in the global economy.

The overall message of the Address was that Europe can respond collectively and decisively in times of crisis. The next phase will therefore focus on translating political commitments into concrete measures that strengthen European security, prosperity and the EU’s ability to protect its interests independently.