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Ursula von der Leyen's 2026 State of the Union preparations

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2026-09-06 05:35 UTC → 2026-09-10 10:43 UTC · added ~~removed~~

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is preparing for her annual State of the Union address, scheduled for September 16, 2026, in Strasbourg. The upcoming speech is expected to review previous achievements and outline priorities for her second term, specifically addressing the EU budget, taxation, and the challenge of maintaining a parliamentary majority amid rising populist sentiment. In a recent ~~speech~~ remarks at a MEDEF business meeting in Paris, von der Leyen expanded on her proposal for a ‘Savings and Investments Union’ (SIU). She characterized approximately 10 trillion euros in European household savings, currently held in bank deposits, as ‘lazy money.’ The Commission estimates that roughly 70 percent of EU household savings are sitting in bank deposits rather than being utilized for economic growth. The SIU strategy aims to encourage citizens to transition wealth from traditional deposits into stocks, funds, and other capital market products. By utilizing measures such as securitization and financial market integration, von der Leyen estimates the initiative could unlock up to 470 billion euros in additional investment. This move is intended to provide citizens with higher long-term returns while supplying European companies with the capital necessary for the green transition, digitalization, and industrial competitiveness. Alongside these economic mobilization efforts, the Commission is pursuing an AI-driven mission through the proposed Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA). This plan seeks to fast-track the development of European data centres by creating acceleration zones with expedited permits. However, critics have raised concerns that such measures might bypass environmental protections and local democratic participation, or potentially increase reliance on US-based Big Tech firms. This economic pivot follows von der Leyen’s warnings regarding the decline of the EU’s traditional economic model, citing the loss of cheap energy, shifts in global trade, and reduced access to Chinese markets. ~~The initiative aligns with the Draghi report, which suggests Europe requires an additional €750 billion to €800 billion in annual investment by 2030.~~

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