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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
World
RFI

Von der Leyen urges Europe to fight for 'independence moment'

European Union Europe Ursula von der Leyen Ukraine Israel State Of The Union Brussels European Commission European Parliament
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers a state of the union speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on 10 September 2025. © AP - Pascal Bastien

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen sketched a harder-edged Europe in her state of the union address on Wednesday, setting out plans to fortify the bloc's eastern flank, keep Ukraine funded and reframe ties with Israel.

European Commission President von der Leyen used her annual speech to argue that the EU must “fight” for its position and defend “every inch” of its territory, after more than ten Russian drones violated Polish airspace overnight.

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