Ursula von der Leyen outlines EU priorities in State of the Union address FAST-MOVING

State of the Union EU Kids Act social media regulation European security Ursula von der Leyen

In her 2026 State of the Union address to the European Parliament, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined a vision for a more autonomous and secure Europe. She addressed the growing threats of disinformation, Russian interference, and ultra-nationalism, calling on the bloc to defend its democratic values.

A major highlight of the speech was the introduction of the ‘EU Kids Act,’ a legislative proposal aimed at regulating social media access for minors. The plan proposes a tiered approach: a total ban for children under 13, parent-supervised ‘mini-accounts’ limited to one hour daily for those aged 13 to 15, and requirements for platforms to ensure ‘safe design’ without addictive algorithms for users aged 15 to 18.

On security and defense, von der Leyen proposed the creation of a European Security Council and a new security protocol inspired by Article 4 of the NATO treaty to better respond to hybrid threats. She also noted that European defense spending has increased by nearly 80% over the last five years. Additionally, the Commission continues to explore using frozen Russian assets to provide financial support to Ukraine, following previous debates regarding the legalities of such measures.

Entities

Charles Michel · European Commission · European Parliament · European Union · Mark Carney · NATO · Strasbourg · Ukraine · Ursula von der Leyen

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 6 SOURCES] Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to speak before the European Parliament on Thursday regarding EU-Canada relations. fakti.bg · via.tt.se · www.rtvslon.ba · www.huffingtonpost.it
[○ 1 SOURCE] The session includes discussions on emissions trading legislation and a new EU customs code for online trade.
[● 4 SOURCES] Expected discussion topics include support for Ukraine, defense and security, climate change, and the EU budget after 2027. fakti.bg · www.rtvslon.ba
[DISPUTED] This will be Ursula von der Leyen's second State of the Union address during her current mandate. fakti.bg · www.rtvslon.ba
[● 5 SOURCES] The European Parliament is holding a plenary session in Strasbourg from today until Thursday. fakti.bg · via.tt.se · www.rtvslon.ba
[● 10 SOURCES] European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will deliver the State of the Union address on Wednesday, September 16. fakti.bg · via.tt.se · www.brusselsreport.eu · www.rtvslon.ba · www.huffingtonpost.it · +1 more
[● 5 SOURCES] The Commission is expected to present a proposal known as the ‘EU Kids Act’ on Thursday. www.reporter.gr · nationalcybersecurity.com
[● 6 SOURCES] The Commission is expected to announce a proposal for an EU-wide social media ban for minors. www.reporter.gr · www.it-boltwise.de · nationalcybersecurity.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Ukraine and Moldova are noted as making progress toward European Union accession.
[● 5 SOURCES] A proposal to restrict minors' access to social media may be included in the EU Kids Act. www.reporter.gr · nationalcybersecurity.com
[● 21 SOURCES] Ursula von der Leyen is scheduled to deliver the State of the Union (SOTEU) speech on September 16 in Strasbourg. dete.gr · www.clujulpolitic.ro · www.ot.gr · www.ekriti.gr · via.tt.se · +12 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The Commission is developing measures to increase European resilience against climate change. www.ekriti.gr · www.brusselsreport.eu · www.puterea.ro · srnnews.com · tribunadepetropolis.com.br