"We will propose a new programme. We call it Qualitative Military Edge. It will support investment in the capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces. [...] We can use our industrial strength to support Ukraine to counter this drone warfare. We can help transform Ukrainian ingenuity into battlefield advantage – and into joint industrialisation. This is why I can also announce that Europe will frontload EUR 6 billion from the ERA loan and enter into a Drone Alliance with Ukraine."

#SOTEU2025

"Europe must be ready to take responsibility for its own security. [...] NATO will always be essential. But only a strong and credible European defence posture will be able to guarantee our security. We have made historic progress [...] to build our European Defence Union. Earlier this year, we launched Readiness 2030 which could unlock up to EUR 800 billion of defence investment. This includes the SAFE programme that is now ready to provide EUR 150 billion for joint procurement."

#SOTEU2025

"Europe’s eastern flank keeps all of Europe safe. From the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. This is why we must invest in supporting it through an Eastern Flank Watch. This means giving Europe independent strategic capabilities. We must invest in real-time space surveillance so that no movement of forces goes unseen. We must heed the call of our Baltic friends and build a drone wall."

#SOTEU2025

"At the next European Council, we will therefore present a clear roadmap. For getting new common defence projects off the ground. For setting clear goals for 2030. And for creating a European Defence Semester."

#SOTEU2025

"What is happening in Gaza has shaken the conscience of the world. People killed while begging for food. Mothers holding lifeless babies. These images are simply catastrophic. So I want to start with a very clear message: Man-made famine can never be a weapon of war. For the sake of the children, for the sake of humanity – this must stop."

#SOTEU2025

"It truly pains me to say these words. And I know that for many citizens, Europe’s inability to agree on a common way forward is equally painful. They are asking how much worse things must get before there is unity of response.
I understand. Because what is happening in Gaza is unacceptable."

#SOTEU2025

"On our side, we proposed to suspend parts of our Horizon funding. But this is stuck without a majority. [...] This is why I will propose a package of measures to carve out a way forward. First, the Commission will do all that it can on its own. We will put our bilateral support to Israel on hold. [...] We will propose sanctions on the extremist ministers and on violent settlers. And we will also propose a partial suspension of the Association Agreement on trade-related matters."

#SOTEU2025

"Tt is time to get rid of dirty Russian fossil fuels. And we know, what brings prices down: clean homegrown energy. We need to generate more homegrown renewables – with nuclear as a baseload."

#SOTEU2025

"I strongly believe that parents, not algorithms, should be raising our children. Just as in my days – we as a society – taught our children that they could not smoke, drink and watch adult content until a certain age. I believe it is time we consider doing the same for social media. Our friends in Australia are pioneering a social media restriction. I am watching the implementation of their policy closely to see what next steps we can take here in Europe."

#SOTEU2025

Key quotes from the State of European Union 2025 that are relevant from a progressive, pacifist, ecologist perspective.

"[Europeans] worry about the endless spiral of events they see on the news – from the devastating scenes in Gaza to the relentless Russian barrage on Ukraine".

https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/state-union/state-union-2025_en

#SOTEU2025

"The people of Europe have shown they are willing to help those fleeing war and persecution. But there is a growing sense of frustration, stemming from their impression that our rules are being ignored.
[...] We must be serious about returning rejected asylum seekers to their home countries. We cannot have a situation where only 20 percent of those who are not allowed to stay actually leave Europe. We therefore need to agree quickly on the Common European System for Returns."

#SOTEU2025

"Climate change is making each summer hotter, harsher, and more dangerous. This is why we have to radically step up our efforts into climate resilience and adaptation, and nature-based solutions. But we must also give ourselves the tools to respond. This is why we will propose to create a new European firefighting hub based in Cyprus, which could also support our regional neighbours."

#SOTEU2025