INTRODUCTION
Today, September 10, 2025, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, outlined her vision for a united, safe and sustainable Europe.
At Kehsia, we had the honor of following the conference remotely from the European Parliament headquarters in Luxembourg. At the end of Ursula von der Leyen’s speech, several questions were posed, encouraging participants to reflect on the content of the presentation. This sparked a discussion on which topics had been addressed more fully, which issues had left the strongest impression, which words or phrases from the speech stood out and much more.
Below there is a clear overview of the central themes and a brief summary of the key points covered in Ursula von der Leyen’s speech.
CHALLENGES AND SECURITY
At the heart of the European Commission President’s speech there were global and local challenges: from the war in Ukraine to the energy crisis, from economic competitiveness to the protection of citizens’ rights. Von der Leyen highlighted the suffering of civilians in Ukraine, emphasizing Europe’s commitment to military support and civilian protection. Indeed, Ursula von der Leyen stated: “We must protect Ukraine and ensure the safety of all Europeans”.
INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
A large portion of the speech was devoted to innovation and sustainability. The European Commission will invest in artificial intelligence, clean technologies, renewable energy and sustainable mobility. The President of the European Commission empathized that only technologically autonomous Europe can guarantee independence and secure jobs for its citizens.
Ursula von der Leyen also addressed social justice and citizen protection: from safeguarding young people in the digital era, with initiatives to limit unlimited access to social media and ensure online safety, to access to cleaner and more affordable energy, and to decent, accessible and sustainable housing, announcing the first European Housing Plan.
ECONOMY, DEMOCRACY AND CORE VALUES
The President also highlighted the importance of placing citizens at the center of decision-making and strengthening democracy, with tools to combat disinformation and media manipulation.
Von der Leyen insisted on independence from Russian fossil fuels, focusing on clean energy production in Europe, nuclear power and strengthening infrastructure and interconnections. She also addressed European industrial competitiveness, from car manufacturing to agri-food, emphasizing the importance of supporting European businesses and farmers, promoting fair
prices and ensuring transparent competition conditions.
Ursula von der Leyen concluded her speech with a call to fundamental European values: freedom, democracy and the rule of law, recalling the commitment to fighting disinformation and media manipulation, protecting citizens, managing migration and ensuring energy and climate security.
“EVERY TIME EUROPEANS HAVE FOUGHT TOGETHER, THEY HAVE BUILT A BETTER FUTURE” – Ursula von der Leyen.