Every September, the President of the European Commission comes to the European Parliament to discuss with MEPs what the Commission has done over the past year, what it intends to do in the coming year and its vision for the future in the State of the European Union debate. Nine months before the next European Parliament elections on 6 - 9 June, President Ursula von der Leyen outlines her Commission’s priorities from now until the end of its mandate. She focuses on a stronger and more resilient European Union, on the EU’s continued support for Ukraine in its war against Russia’s aggression, on energy security and EU energy independence, the EU’s twin green and digital transitions, and on protecting core EU values. Highlights of the speech by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

state of the European Union 2023 (T)

State of the European Union 2023: highlights of the speech by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, In just under 300 days, Europeans will take to the polls in our unique and remarkable democracy. As with any election, it will be the time for people to reflect on the state of our union and the work done by those that represent them. But it will also be a time to decide on what kind of future. And what kind of Europe they want

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We have delivered over 90% of the political guidelines I presented in 2019.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Four years ago The European Green Deal was our answer to the call of history. And this summer. The hottest ever on record in Europe was a stark reminder of that. Greece and Spain was struck by ravaging wildfires and were hit again only a few weeks later by devastating floods. And we saw the chaos and carnage of extreme weather from Slovenia to Bulgaria and right across our union. This is the reality of a boiling planet.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, From wind to steal from batteries to electric vehicles. Our ambition is crystal clear. The future of our clean tech industry has to be made in Europe

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Global markets are now flooded with cheaper Chinese electric cars. And their price is kept artificially low by huge state subsidies. This is distorting our market. And as we do not accept this distortion from the inside in our market, we do not accept this from the outside. So I can announce today. That the commission is launching an anti-subsidy investigation into electric vehicles coming from China.

SOUNDBITE (German), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, So we need more dialogue. We need less polarisation. And hence we would like to launch a strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture in the EU. I am and remain convinced that agriculture and protection of our natural world can go hand in hand. We need both.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We want to hear directly from small and medium enterprises about their everyday challenges. For every new piece of legislation. We conduct a competitiveness check by an independent board. And next month we will make the first legislative proposal towards reducing reporting obligations at the European level by 25%.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, These three challenges Labour inflation and business environment come at a time when we are also asking industry to lead on the clean transition. So we need to look further ahead. And set out how we remain competitive as we do that. And that is why I have asked Mario Draghi, one of Europe's great economic minds, to prepare a report on the future of European competitiveness. Because Europe will do whatever it takes to keep its competitive edge.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Our heart bleeds when we see the devastating loss of life in Libya and Morocco after the violent floods and earthquake. Europe will always stand ready to support in any way we can.

SOUNDBITE (French), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, And allow me to thank in particular. Bulgaria and Romania. Four, having shown the way by showcasing best practices on both asylum and returns, they have proved that Bulgaria and Romania are part of our Schengen area. Let us finally bring them in without any more delay.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We need stronger law enforcement, prosecution and a more prominent role for our agency, Europol, Eurojust and Frontex. And we need to work with our partners to tackle this global plague of human trafficking. And this is why the Commission will organise an international conference on fighting people smuggling. It is time to put an end to this callous and criminal business.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, I am proud to announce that the Commission would propose to extend our temporary protection to Ukrainians in the European Union. Our support to Ukraine will endure.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, This House has said it out loud. The future of Ukraine is in our union. The future of the Western Balkans is in our union. The future of Moldova is in our union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We have started to build a health union of 27 and I believe we can finish it at 30 plus. We have started to build a European Defence Union by 27. I am convinced we can finish it at 30 plus.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Think again about the vision and the imagination of the young generation I started my speech with. It is the moment to show them that we can build a continent where you can be who you are, love who you want. Aim as high as you want. A continent reconciled with nature and leading the way on new technologies. A continent that is united in freedom and peace. Once again, this is Europe's moment to answer the call of history. Long live Europe. Thank you.