On September 10, 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stood before lawmakers in Strasbourg, France, issuing a clarion call for the European Union to reclaim its independence and reinforce its defense capabilities. In a speech that was both urgent and reflective, von der Leyen declared, "Europe must fight, for its place in a world in which many major powers are either ambivalent or openly hostile to Europe." According to the Associated Press, her remarks came during the EU’s highly anticipated state of the union address—a milestone event for European democracy, modeled on the annual addresses delivered by U.S. presidents.
Von der Leyen’s speech arrived at a time of mounting challenges for the EU, with her words resonating against a backdrop of political instability, economic uncertainty, and external threats. The European Commission, under her stewardship, has faced a relentless series of tests: supporting Ukraine amid a grinding war with Russia, navigating tense trade negotiations with the United States, and defending the bloc’s regulatory powers against both corporate and political pushback. As she addressed the European Parliament, von der Leyen sought to chart a course through these turbulent waters, outlining new spending targets and policy initiatives aimed at shoring up the EU’s future.
While the specific details of her new proposals were tightly held until the speech itself, the Commission’s recent actions have already signaled its direction. According to the Associated Press, the EU executive has been instrumental in backing Ukraine, now in its fourth year of a war widely regarded as an existential threat to Europe. The Commission has also spearheaded efforts to arm the EU against what von der Leyen described as "an aggressive Russia whose president shows little interest in peace talks." This hardening stance has been matched by a willingness to wield the bloc’s regulatory might, most recently demonstrated by a $3.5 billion fine levied against Google for breaching competition rules.
These headline-grabbing moves have not gone unnoticed—nor have they been universally celebrated. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, for instance, blasted the Google fine as "very unfair," writing on his Truth Social platform, "the American Taxpayer will not stand for it! As I have said before, my Administration will NOT allow these discriminatory actions to stand." Yet, paradoxically, Trump has also heaped praise on von der Leyen, who, despite being a political appointee rather than an elected official, has become a regular presence at international summits and a key player on the world stage.
The Commission’s growing influence comes as the traditional powerhouses of France and Germany have struggled with their own domestic woes. The timing of von der Leyen’s speech—just two days after yet another French government fell—underscored the shifting balance of power within the EU. As Fabian Zuleeg, chief executive at the European Policy Centre think-tank, told the Associated Press, "A lot has happened over the last year. A lot of things which are more on the negative side rather than on the positive side. So people will be looking at how will she react to that. People want to know not only what are the policy initiatives, but what is the mood, what is the feeling, where Europe is going to go in the next years."
But von der Leyen’s tenure has not been without controversy. Just two months prior to her Strasbourg address, she survived a rare no-confidence vote in the European Parliament—a challenge that raised a host of allegations, from her private text messaging with Pfizer’s CEO during the COVID-19 pandemic to claims of misuse of EU funds and election interference. Although she won the vote comfortably, von der Leyen notably did not appear for the proceedings. Instead, she took to social media to reaffirm her commitment to European unity, posting, "As external forces seek to destabilize and divide us, it is our duty to respond in line with our values. Thank you, and long live Europe."
Her leadership style, marked by a readiness to confront external and internal threats alike, has both galvanized supporters and drawn sharp criticism. On the eve of her speech, European public interest groups and trade unions sounded the alarm over what they described as "an unprecedented wave of drastic cuts to regulations protecting labor, social, and human rights, as well as digital rights, and the environment." According to these critics, the Commission is rolling back vital protections under the guise of reducing bureaucratic red tape—a move they argue could undermine the very values von der Leyen claims to defend.
Despite the swirling controversies and the chorus of critics, von der Leyen’s speech was billed by the Commission as a "milestone event for European democracy." The address, which could run for up to three hours, was designed to both take stock of the challenges facing the world’s largest trading bloc and to lay out a vision for the years ahead. The stakes were high, with around 450 million people across 27 countries watching closely as the Commission’s president outlined the EU’s path forward.
In her address, von der Leyen emphasized the need for unity and resilience in the face of mounting external pressures. She argued that Europe’s future depends on its ability to act decisively and independently, especially as traditional alliances are tested and new global rivalries emerge. Her call to "fight for its place in a world in which many major powers are either ambivalent or openly hostile to Europe" was not just rhetorical flourish—it was a stark assessment of the geopolitical landscape, where the EU must navigate between assertive rivals and unpredictable partners.
At the heart of her message was a recognition that the EU’s strength lies in its ability to adapt and innovate. Whether it’s supporting Ukraine, confronting powerful tech companies, or defending the rule of law, the Commission under von der Leyen has sought to position the EU as a force to be reckoned with. Yet, as recent events have shown, that path is fraught with political hazards and competing interests—both within Europe and beyond.
As the session in Strasbourg drew to a close, the questions swirling around von der Leyen’s leadership remained unresolved. Would her vision for a more independent and assertive Europe win over skeptics? Could the Commission balance its regulatory ambitions with the need to protect social and environmental rights? And, perhaps most importantly, would the EU be able to hold its own in a world where old certainties are fast disappearing?
For now, one thing is clear: the European Union, under von der Leyen’s watch, is determined not to sit on the sidelines. As the continent faces a future filled with uncertainty, the fight for Europe’s place in the world is only just beginning.