Von der Leyen delivers the most awaited speech

BarcelonaThe President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, delivers the State of the Union address this Wednesday, which marks the opening of the European political year every year. She appears at the European Parliament headquarters in Strasbourg, following a summer marked by the migration crisis in Ceuta, the rise of the far-right, the intensification of the war in Ukraine, and the episodes of Putin's hybrid war at the EU borders. The head of the community executive must address these and other internal and external challenges, such as the impact of social media on minors, the climate emergency, the defense of the Arctic, or trade relations with China.

It is expected that Von der Leyen will propose new measures to toughen the EU's migration policy, a few months after the entry into force of the migration and asylum pact. Also the proposal to ban minors' access to social media across the EU, an initiative that has been brewing in Brussels for some time, and that she will address Europe's positioning in foreign and trade matters. The war in Ukraine is expected to occupy a prominent place in the speech, and she is also expected to deal with other issues such as artificial intelligence, EU enlargement, the reform to reduce the issues where unanimity of the states is necessary, and the green agenda. Last year, Von der Leyen addressed in her speech the Israeli offensive against Gaza, the war in Ukraine, technological and energy momentum, and housing, among others.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has been involved in a confrontation with Donald Trump in defense of freedoms and global governance, will be the guest of honor in the hemicycle, a sign of the new stage of collaboration between Ottawa and Brussels. Trudeau will speak on Thursday at the Eurochamber.