Ursula von der Leyen on European Union

Ursula von der Leyen views the European Union as the essential mechanism for solving the continent's most significant challenges, asserting that her era's major issues—spanning security, climate change, and competitiveness—can only be addressed through united action. She has repeatedly framed her mandate as ensuring Europe achieves its "independence moment" by building strength, autonomy, and preparedness across defence, technology, and economy. This vision requires a deeper integration, exemplified by her push for completing the Single Market and presenting roadmaps to remove barriers across key sectors.

In the context of geopolitical shifts, she emphasizes the need for the EU to become a genuine geopolitical power capable of determining its own destiny, especially given dependencies that are being weaponised globally. This involves massive investment in digital and clean technology to secure independence and taking more responsibility for its own defence capabilities. Her approach centers on unity as a necessary foundation for resilience, as she stated that "without unity, Europe is in a dead-end street."