European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calls for a new “European Security Council” and for closer cooperation with Canada in her State of the European Union speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. She also outlines plans aimed at strengthening EU security, including supporting Ukraine through the winter and reducing reliance on other countries for trade, technology, and critical materials.
France 24 and RFI Europe both report that von der Leyen presents the proposal as part of a broader effort to bolster Europe’s security posture. France 24 adds specific diplomatic details, saying she discusses involving countries such as Britain and Ukraine in the proposed council. It also reports that she raises the possibility of Canada becoming the EU’s first associate member, with the speech directly addressing Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Across the two accounts, the core points converge on the security council idea, continued backing for Ukraine, and deepening economic and strategic ties with Canada. The emphasis differs mainly in France 24’s mention of associate-member status and the specific country examples included.
