Von der Leyen’s European Vision for 2026: A New Roadmap for an Independent Europe?

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address to the European Parliament on 16 September 2026 went beyond a routine political stocktake, signalling that the continent stood at a turning point. Opening with a reference to Charles Dickens’s novel A Tale of Two Cities, von der Leyen described Europe’s present circumstances through a historical paradox. She portrayed a continent with unprecedented potential for integration, yet deeply vulnerable to global events beyond its borders.

Drawing on Ursula von der Leyen’s 2026 State of the Union address, this analysis examines the European Union’s objectives in the areas of energy, security, relations with China and Russia, artificial intelligence, and enlargement policy. It also discusses the obstacles that Europe’s ambition to reduce its external dependencies may face due to disagreements among member states and the EU’s decision-making structure. 9 min read →