Von der Leyen Says EU Faces Most Precarious Moment Amid Openly Hostile World

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that the European Union is in the “most precarious” position it has ever faced, even as she described the bloc as “the strongest it has ever been,” during her annual State of the European Union speech, according to The Guardian.

Von der Leyen said the EU now confronts an “openly hostile world,” pointing to authoritarian pressures, disinformation and interference from foreign actors, including what she described as Russian interference, as challenges to European democracies.

“Do we want to rally around our European idea that together we can decide our own destiny? Or do we let our democracies be undermined by the proxies and puppets of authoritarians?” von der Leyen said, according to the report. She added that whether the threat comes from “ultra nationalist” movements or “anti-European” forces, “the names may be different, but their goal is the same.”

On economic matters, von der Leyen said “kickstarting Europe’s economy is our number one priority,” calling on the bloc to make better use of its large internal market, industries and service sectors. She said the EU’s single market remains “too fragmented” and requires further reform, setting a goal of completing it by the end of next year.

The speech, delivered as an annual address outlining the Commission’s priorities, comes amid ongoing debates within the EU over economic competitiveness, security cooperation and responses to geopolitical pressures from outside the bloc, The Guardian reported.