Von der Leyen to Address AI Wildfires Ukraine and Trade in EU Speech

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to deliver her annual State of the European Union address to the European Parliament, outlining priorities for the bloc over the coming year. The speech is expected to address artificial intelligence, climate change, recent European wildfires, children’s online safety, Russia’s war in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East and global trade tensions. The event, modeled on U.S. presidential State of the Union addresses, is closely followed by EU insiders but attracts limited public attention across the bloc’s 27 member states. Von der Leyen is also expected to emphasize Europe’s independence and democratic values amid geopolitical pressure, including tariffs and criticism from the administration of current President Donald Trump. Critics say the annual address is often aspirational and provides too few concrete details about the European Commission’s plans.