Debate on the State of the EU: the economy, security, climate change, AI and social media

At the start of the debate, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, said: ‘Our Union has always moved forward because there were people willing to act when the moment demanded it, and to turn uncertainty into opportunity. Citizens expect the EU to do more to protect them, support them and defend their interests – in terms of security, competitiveness, affordable housing, quality jobs, the climate and borders. They want a Europe that is strong and proud of its values. Now is the time for courage, ambition and results’, she concluded.

“The state of our Union is stronger than ever. The state of our Union is also perceived as more fragile than ever,” admitted President Ursula von der Leyen. She emphasised that reviving the European economy is her top priority. She referred to the ‘One Europe, One Market’ strategy and noted that by the end of 2027 ‘we can and must complete this historic overhaul of the single market’.

“Our future prosperity and security will depend largely on how we manage the turning points of our time: climate change and artificial intelligence,” she warned, stressing that “Europe can, must and will stay on course towards its climate targets”. Von der Leyen announced that the Commission will present a new framework for climate resilience, a climate insurance alliance, a plan for heatwaves and a water initiative.

On the subject of AI, von der Leyen noted that Europe needs to decisively boost its computing capacity and develop new ways of using public and private funds to invest in the most promising European companies and initiatives. Health, transport, agri-food, manufacturing, defence and space are the areas where industrial AI has the greatest potential, according to the EC President, who outlined forthcoming innovative proposals in these sectors.

As for the breakdown of the rules-based international system, von der Leyen called for ‘reimagining our partnerships’. She addressed the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, who was present in the chamber, and proposed working to make Canada the EU’s first associated state.

Speaking on security and the hybrid threats facing Europe, von der Leyen said that Europe needs an emergency security protocol to coordinate the European response, deter further escalation and mitigate the impact of these threats. Given the nature and scale of the risks at stake, she announced that the Commission would present its ideas “to bring about a European Security Council”. On Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, she reiterated the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine and called for tougher EU sanctions against Russia.

Regarding the events in Ceuta over the summer, the Commission President stated that “the border at Ceuta is a European border. Because Ceuta is Spain. Ceuta is Europe’. She highlighted the 55 per cent reduction in irregular arrivals over the past two years and a further 35 per cent drop this year. ‘Europe’s message is clear: we will always uphold our values and fundamental rights. But we will never compromise on the protection of our borders’.

On the subject of social media, von der Leyen announced a proposal for an EU Children’s Act, which will be unveiled shortly. “No social media before the age of 13. They will not be allowed to manage their own accounts before the age of 15 … From the age of 13 until they turn 15, they will only be able to use accounts set up and supervised by their parents, with restrictions and a maximum usage time of one hour a day. Until the age of 18, safe design will be a requirement for platforms. Europe has the power to act. It is we who set the rules, not the tech giants, ” said the President of the European Commission.

 

Leaders of the political groups:

Manfred Weber (EPP, Germany) stated that Europe is experiencing three simultaneous shocks: rapid technological transformation driven by AI, profound geopolitical change and growing economic insecurity reflected in the loss of industrial jobs. He argued that Europe must listen to, rather than lecture, its citizens and implement pragmatic policies, including on climate issues and for the automotive industry. Weber supported the proposal to strengthen the protection of children online and called for greater European cooperation on defence, including a single market for armaments, joint command structures, drones and satellites. Weber also called for more investment in AI and competitiveness, and backed a robust long-term EU budget. He pointed out that trade agreements, such as CETA with Canada, are not just about market access, but also about building alliances in a changing world order.

Iratxe García (S&D, Spain) called on the EU to show courage in the fight against climate change and to break its dependence on fossil fuels supplied by autocrats. The European project “will not survive if our citizens cannot afford to live with dignity”, she warned. She called for the Affordable Housing Act to be implemented, as well as legislation on quality jobs. Women’s rights must be guaranteed, she emphasised, and she also insisted that the EU’s borders must be defended ‘without abandoning our values’. García called for the suspension of the association agreement with Israel and the confiscation of frozen Russian assets. On the budget, he stressed that “Europe cannot do more with less”. García concluded that “the Europe of the 21st century will only be possible if pro-European forces work together. Not by looking to the far right”.

“There are now, in 2026, two Europes,” declared Jordan Bardella (PfE, France). “There is the Europe of those who write the rules, of the bureaucrats who squander public money and invent the taxes of tomorrow (…) and then there is the Europe of those who have to pay.” He denounced the “unbearable blow to the middle and working classes” dealt by the ETS2 regulation, adding that Europe “is also providing less and less protection”, in reference to the situation in Ceuta. “The peoples of Europe expect only one thing: the protection of our borders, ” he declared. On economic policy, Bardella criticised “the great European paradox”: “We regulate what we no longer know how to manufacture, and we import what we ourselves are forbidden to produce (…) let us finally embrace European preference in public procurement, ” he said.

Patryk Jaki (ECR, Poland) argued that excessive EU bureaucracy continues to hinder growth and innovation. He called for measures to protect citizens and businesses from rising energy prices, in particular by reviewing green policies which, in his view, drive up costs and hinder competitiveness. On the issue of migration, Jaki called for stricter enforcement of existing rules and more resources for border management and protection. She also criticised plans to restrict young people’s access to social media, arguing that young people need greater economic stability, quality jobs and decent living conditions rather than restrictions on their freedom.

Valerie Hayer (Renew, France) called for a new vision for the European Union and a pro-European radicalism. She called for a European law on climate resilience and risk management, as well as investment in innovation and global leadership for a legal framework for AI. Europe must show strength in standing up to Russia and continue to support Ukraine, she said. The EU needs to expand its sphere of influence and become a safe haven for the world’s democrats, Hayer added. She concluded by calling for an ambitious budget that benefits citizens.

Terry Reintke (Greens, Germany) warned that Europe is already in a climate emergency and accused EU leaders of failing to respond adequately to this summer’s wildfires, heatwaves and heat-related deaths. She criticised efforts to weaken the Green Deal and announced that her group would seek a committee of inquiry into shortcomings in the implementation of climate legislation. Reintke called for a clear timetable for the phasing out of fossil fuels, a windfall tax to make polluters pay, and a properly funded climate change adaptation plan in the next EU budget. In her view, Europe must act with greater confidence against powerful opponents, including Donald Trump, the tech oligarchs and Vladimir Putin.

“Filling up with petrol already costs over a hundred euros, and millions of people have to choose between food, housing or transport,” said Manon Aubry (The Left, France). She called for a price freeze and for a tax on oil companies’ windfall profits. Aubry condemned the Commission’s “vast deregulation agenda”. She criticised the choice of “a scorched-earth policy that targets the environment as the enemy, rather than a profound transformation of economic models”. Aubry also criticised the lack of a democratic and popular mandate for establishing a European Security Council and a special relationship with Canada. She further lamented that no sanctions had been imposed on Israel nor had the bilateral agreement been suspended in response to the situation in Gaza.

René Aust (ESN, Germany) described the state of the Union as one of lost borders and lost competitiveness. He said that a seven-week attack on the European border had led to a dramatic situation, yet nothing had been done. He called for less bureaucracy and red tape and lamented that the opposite was being done. He welcomed the progress made by patriotic parties and emphasised that they were working towards the ‘Europe we all want’.