Von der Leyen to deliver State of the Union address
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will deliver her annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg this morning.
The hour-long speech to MEPs is widely expected to focus heavily on both Russia’s war on Ukraine and the resulting energy price crisis for households and businesses. EU companies.
It is understood that the wife of Ukrainian President Olena Zelenska will attend the session.
The State of the Union Address is an annual event that allows MEPs to hear the Commission President’s plans and priorities for the coming year, and then ask far-reaching questions.
This year’s speech is expected to focus substantially on the Russian invasion of Ukraine – although Ms von der Leyen is not expected to announce new sanctions against Russia or new plans to reduce energy prices for households.
However, she said on Twitter last week that the EU will do everything in its power to ensure Ukraine wins against Russia; and that an emergency response is being prepared to protect both EU households and businesses from energy price hikes.
The theme of EU solidarity with the Ukrainian people is expected to be a constant throughout her speech – the Commission President has already stated publicly that unity of purpose can defeat Russian blackmail over gas prices .