# EU strategic and security policy developments

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/eu-strategic-and-security-policy-developments
> Updated: 2026-09-16T08:08:43.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 2.

During her 2026 State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined a strategic vision for a more independent Europe. Describing the EU as being in a period of both “strength and precariousness,” she emphasized the need for greater autonomy in economic policy, energy security, and defense to navigate an increasingly hostile international environment.

A central pillar of this strategy involves doubling down on affordable, homegrown clean energy and accelerating electrification to reduce strategic dependencies and meet 2040 climate targets. This approach sparked significant political debate. Manfred Weber, leader of the European People's Party, criticized the Commission's green policies, arguing they must not increase the cost of living or threaten jobs, and advocated for overturning the ban on internal combustion engines. In contrast, Iratxe García Pérez of the Socialists and Democrats urged the maintenance of the Green Deal, asserting that competitiveness requires clean and secure energy. Additionally, Cyprus-based MEPs expressed disappointment regarding the lack of mention of the Turkish occupation of Cyprus.

As part of her address, von der Leyen proposed a new European Security Strategy. A key element is an emergency security protocol designed to function similarly to Article 4 of the NATO treaty. This mechanism would trigger urgent consultations among member states when a nation faces serious threats to its national security, aiming to coordinate collective responses to modern challenges, particularly hybrid threats that do not involve classic military aggression. The proposal also suggests high-level meetings dedicated exclusively to continental security involving EU members and key partners.

## Claims

- The State of the Union address was delivered at the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attended the State of the Union debate as an honorary guest. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The EU needs to build greater independence in economy, energy security, and defense. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The EU must respond to citizens' concerns about the cost of living by listening to them rather than preaching to them. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The EPP will fight to overturn the ban on internal combustion engines and relax carbon emission rules for businesses. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The S&D party urges the Commission to maintain green ambitions and the Green Deal, arguing competitiveness requires clean energy. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The European Union must double down on affordable and homegrown clean energy. (single source)
- The European Union is currently stronger than ever but also appears more precarious than ever. (single source)
- The Commission President's speech made no mention of Cyprus or the Turkish occupation of its territory. (single source)
- Ursula von der Leyen stated that Europe needs to electrify to achieve independence. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-16: Ursula von der Leyen proposes new European security protocol

Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a new European Security Strategy, including an emergency protocol modeled after NATO's Article 4 to address hybrid threats and coordinate collective responses.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ursula-von-der-leyen-proposes-new-european-security-protocol

### 2026-09-16: Ursula von der Leyen delivers State of the Union address to European Parliament

Ursula von der Leyen delivered the State of the Union address in Strasbourg, focusing on EU independence, energy security, and defense, while facing debate over green policies and the omission of Cyprus.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ursula-von-der-leyen-delivers-2026-state-of-the-union-address

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Cite as: EU strategic and security policy developments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/eu-strategic-and-security-policy-developments