Live: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen gives State of the Union address

We and our partners do the following data processing based on your consent: store and/or access information on a device, personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development Live: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen gives State of the Union address EU chief Ursula von der Leyen is set to deliver the annual State of the Union address before the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, at a time when the European Union is being hit by multiple crises, including migration, AI, climate change and Russia’s war on Ukraine. Watch live on FRANCE 24 at 9am Paris time (GMT+2). European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a press conference to present the "EU Inc" plan, aimed at increasing the European Union's competitiveness, at the EU headquarters in Brussels, on March 18, 2026. © Nicolas Tucat, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will deliver a major state of the European Union speech on Wednesday, setting out her priorities for the next year and her vision for tackling the challenges faced by the world’s biggest trading bloc.

Read moreEU to propose curbing social media, online games for under 15s The content of von der Leyen’s address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, has been kept under wraps.But the speech is likely to touch on AI, climate change and the fires that have swept Europe this summer, as well as protection for children online, Russia’s war on Ukraine, conflict across the Middle East and international trade tensions. The Debate## Where is the kill switch? AI doomsday warnings trigger calls to regulate Leaders urge EU to expand Arctic presence amid Russia 'threat' 1. 1 ## NATO downs drone over Lithuania As it happened Europe 2. 2 ## Macron, Carney to visit North Atlantic French islands after Trump's map post Americas 3. 3 ## US Space Force confirms weapons deployed in space for first time Americas 4. 4 ## France apologises for diplomatic spat with US to lift block on new ambassador to Washington France 5. 5 ## Saudi Arabia vows to hit back ‘firmly’ after Houthi attacks As it happened Middle East 6. 6 ## Sweden's centre-left holds razor-thin edge as exit polls show tight race Europe © 2026 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved.

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