State of the Union: Six takeaways from Ursula von der Leyen's keynote speech
Ursula von der Leyen delivered on Wednesday her annual State of the Union speech, unveiling the main political priorities for the next working year.
Russia's war in Ukraine and the worsening energy crisis were recurring themes in the address, giving the special occasion a markedly sombre undertone.
"As we look around at the state of the world today, it can often feel like there is a fading away of what once seemed so permanent," she said.
However, von der Leyen also injected doses of optimism and made a passionate case for a stronger and closer union emerging from the overlapping crises.
"We will succeed – and that success will belong to every one of us," she noted, quoting the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Here are the six takeaways from this year's State of the European Union address.
Von der Leyen began her speech by praising Ukraine's resistance against Russia's invasion, describing the country as a "nation of heroes" and vowing the EU's solidarity will "remain unshakable."
Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, was her guest of honour and received a standing ovation from MEPs.
"Today, courage has a name, and that name is Ukraine," von der Leyen said, adding she will travel to Kyiv later in the day.
The Commission chief also unveiled several proposals to align Ukraine with the single market, including by extending the European free-of-charge roaming area, and support its reconstruction, with €100 million to rebuild damaged schools.
However, she did not present any plans for new weapons delivery, as Kyiv continues to demand in the midst of a lighting counteroffensive.
She added that the EU should have listened to eastern European countries that "have been telling us for years that Putin would not stop."
Von der Leyen then spoke about
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