"Whether it's ultranationalists or anti-Europeans, whether it's Russian interference or disinformation, the names may be different, but their goal is the same. They despise our values and want to shatter our European unity. So let's not just oppose all this, but fight together for our idea of Europe." This was emphasized by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in her State of the Union address. "Canada will be the first associate member of the EU," the president announced, who, among the many topics discussed, also addressed AI, the migrant emergency, and the EU Kids Act, which bans children under 13 from social media. Von der Leyen also announced "a European plan to combat heatwaves."
Von der Leyen: "They want to break up Europe."
"Our choice is clear," von der Leyen said. "Do we want a strong and independent Europe that defends its values in the world? Or do we allow our democracies to be undermined by the representatives and puppets of authoritarians? Whether it's ultranationalists or anti-Europeans, whether it's Russian interference or disinformation, the names may be different, but their goal is the same. They despise our values and want to shatter our European unity. So let's not just oppose all this, but fight together for our idea of Europe."
“We all know the threats we face. As old assumptions and relationships have frayed, we now find ourselves confronting an openly hostile world. A territorial war of aggression is raging on our continent; others have erupted nearby. A struggle for industrial capacity is shaping global competition. And a battle of narratives is seeking to undermine trust in Europe, to paralyze our democracies. But people's concerns are not only linked to these major global threats. The effects of numerous crises are being felt by many European families, not least on the cost of living or housing,” she stressed. “These concrete concerns are being exploited to create divisions among us. Sometimes from without and too often from within. But our path is clear: to build an independent Europe with the power to act. Nothing can distract us from this goal. Because in this world, Europe's fate must remain in the hands of Europeans,” von der Leyen reiterated.
Von der Leyen and women
“Today,” she continued, “our fundamental values are being called into question. Some even want to push us back on women's rights, taking us back to a time when women were second-class citizens. We fought so hard for equal treatment, equal opportunities, equal pay,” she added. “Women are here to stay. We will defend our rights. And we will continue to defend our values every single day.”
Von der Leyen and the EU budget
"Our budget is about our future. And every modern budget needs new own resources," von der Leyen said in her State of the Union address, which was followed by applause from the chamber.
Von der Leyen on climate
"On climate change," he declared, "this summer has been the summer of truth. Almost no part of our continent has been spared. In the High Fens of Belgium, a peat bog formed over centuries has turned into a wasteland of ash. Flames have raged from the mountains of Ireland to the islands of Greece and Croatia. In the Alps, ancient glaciers are retreating further every day."
“The impact of all this is simply devastating: 660 hectares completely burned. Around 12 million tons of crops lost. Key rivers like the Danube, the Rhine, and the Garonne are disappearing before our eyes,” he added. “There is no doubt: Europe can, must, and will stay on track with its climate goals. Of course, the transition is complex. And we will have to adjust and learn along the way,” he added.
Then came the announcement: the European Commission will establish a Climate Insurance Alliance to address the gap in catastrophe insurance coverage. "Today, only around 25% of catastrophe losses in Europe are covered by private insurance. This means that, too often, national budgets become the insurer of last resort," he said. "We must act to close this gap. This is why the Commission will establish a Climate Insurance Alliance."
And furthermore: "We will soon present a European plan against heatwaves. We need better early warning systems and better healthcare preparedness. We need urban adaptation and cooling. And we must support the most vulnerable. More than 35 additional deaths during heatwaves. Nursing homes and hospitals are dangerously overheated," von der Leyen emphasized, speaking of the summer heat emergency. "This is just a preview." "These were the hottest summer months ever, but probably the coolest in years to come," she added.
Europe and AI
Regarding artificial intelligence, he said, "the AI Act is a crucial element and positions Europe to guide global efforts on how to address this issue. We will therefore intensify our engagement with like-minded partners, such as Canada and the United Kingdom. We want to collaborate on model assessment, verification, early warning, AI safety, and much more. I will invite leading cutting-edge laboratories to a discussion on how we can support ongoing efforts to keep pace with innovation."
By limiting the risks of AI, we can maximize its benefits. We've already achieved a lot, for example, on gigafactories and technological sovereignty. But the next stage in this race isn't just about cutting-edge models. Just as it was in the past with printing. It was invented by a German inventor, but it was mastered and applied throughout Western Europe.
“We don't need to be the ones developing cutting-edge technology to be the ones extracting the most value from it. The key is creating the value that AI hasn't yet generated. Bringing AI from the screen to the real economy and society. In factories. In hospital wards. In precision agriculture. In our energy grids. For autonomous driving. For defense. This is where the real value lies. And this is where Europe has great advantages. We have world-class industries that have the highest quality data. This data is a precious European treasure. It is what can fuel tailored industrial AI models,” added von der Leyen. "In November, we will announce groundbreaking initiatives in these areas: We will invite Member States, MEPs, businesses, and entrepreneurs to join us in this ambitious European project. Our approach is clear. We want AI. We want AI to create more value in a more responsible way. And at a lower cost and with less energy. But above all, we want AI that takes human action into account," announced the Commission President.
