Von der Leyen’s lines: what the EU chief didn’t say in her state of union

Censorship was labelled “democratic resilience” while international isolation was dressed up as “independence” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her sixth annual State of the Union address in Strasbourg on Wednesday.

By invoking Dickens' “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” she gave herself ample opportunity to slap herself on the back while giving the impression that she was also calling on herself to do more.

Here’s what she didn't say about the state of the EU – an increasingly militarized and authoritarian superstructure fighting to hold itself together.

Cashing in cashing out The Eu is experiencing an unprecedented cost of living crisis that has been singularly caused by the bloc's self-defeating energy policies.

Russian gas is under embargo and supplies from the Middle East have been cratered by the US-Israeli war on Iran, and most recently the incursion of Houthis into Saudi Arabia.

Read more Saudi Arabia cancels oil shipments to Europe after pipeline attack – Reuters American substitutes are far more expensive than Russian products, meaning natural gas prices across the bloc are now three times higher than they were in January, surpassing €83 per megawatt hour on September 14.

Electricity prices remain almost 50% higher than they were in early 2022, making the EU an unappealing location for high-tech and heavy industry alike, as well as crippling consumers.

An authoritarian and centralized union Both the European Commission and von der Leyen herself significantly consolidated their power in 2026.

Von der Leyen began by appointing 26 commissioners without running the list past the European Parliament first, and deliberately withholding budget and internal market strategy documents from member states until hours before publication, making deliberation impossible.

Read more Von der Leyen seeking to tighten grip on EU foreign policy – Politico The bloc’s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas – perhaps more than ever a figure of ridicule – has been sidelined by von der Leyen, with the commission president pushing for the creation of a new intelligence agency answering to her office, and reportedly planning to strip Kallas’ diplomatic service of key foreign policy functions.

France and Germany have also reportedly backed moves to downsize the influence of Kallas, who is increasingly seen as a destructive diplomatic influence.

Immigration disintegration The European Commission tightened its grip on immigration policy when the Migration and Asylum Pact became active in June.

Now, for the first time in the bloc’s history, the European Commission can order member states to accept migrants arriving in other states, or pay a financial penalty instead.