Von der Leyen Faces Pressure to Address Trump and Putin Challenges

High Stakes for EU Commission President's Annual Address

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faces mounting pressure as she prepares to deliver her annual State of the European Union address in Strasbourg. The speech, scheduled for Wednesday morning at 09:00 CET, comes amid what many European Parliament members describe as a "humiliating summer" for the bloc.

Trade Deal Controversy

The recent EU-US trade agreement has become a major point of contention. Many parliamentarians view the deal, which saw the EU accept 15% import tariffs from the United States, as a one-sided arrangement that provided little in return. "We saw an EU that simply had to swallow American import tariffs and got little in return," noted one senior parliamentary official.

Von der Leyen's team has defended the agreement as the best possible outcome, arguing that without the deal, tariffs could have reached as high as 50%. However, concerns remain about whether President Trump might violate the agreement and impose higher tariffs, particularly following the EU's recent multi-billion euro fine against Google.

Geopolitical Challenges

The Commission President must address multiple global crises simultaneously. The ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine continues to destabilize European security, while the situation in Israel and Gaza remains volatile. Meanwhile, the power struggle between China and the United States threatens to undermine international rules-based order.

Parliamentary Expectations

Christian Democrats, von der Leyen's political allies, want to see strong leadership in addressing global uncertainty. They expect a robust response to Russian President Putin's aggression in Ukraine, potentially including new commitments to increase pressure on Moscow.

Social Democrats and Green parliamentarians are pushing for a stronger stance against the Israeli government's actions. Liberal factions are focusing on completing the EU's internal market to enhance competitiveness.

Defending Achievements

Despite the challenges, von der Leyen is expected to highlight several successes: regulatory simplification efforts, progress on trade agreements with South America, India and Indonesia, and the mobilization of hundreds of billions for defense through joint borrowing.

The clock continues to count down to what may be one of the most consequential speeches of von der Leyen's presidency, with the future direction of European unity hanging in the balance.