Ursula von der Leyen gives her State of the Union address in Strasbourg, France on Sept. 16, 2026.Fred Marvaux/EP

12 takeaways from von der Leyen’s State of the Union – POLITICO

by · POLITICO

Ursula von der Leyen used her State of the Union speech to unveil a raft of proposals aimed at making Europe better prepared for a world of threats — from sweltering summers to hybrid warfare, migrant crises and social media.

What the Commission president chose to talk about in Strasbourg — and, just as importantly, what she left unsaid — will help define the rest of her term and the political legacy she leaves behind.

Here are the 12 biggest takeaways.