Addressing the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) on December 1, 2025, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined a dual focus on enhancing European security and boosting economic resilience.
Security Challenges and Defence Union
Von der Leyen highlighted recent acts of sabotage and airspace violations near Europe, linking them to ongoing threats related to the conflict in Ukraine. She underscored the EU’s response through ambitious collective efforts to create a genuine Defence Union, supported by an unprecedented €800 billion investment in defence industries. This approach indicates a clear move toward increased European integration in defence, reinforcing EU powers over national security strategies. She pointed to Denmark’s active participation in contributing military aid and commitment to the EU’s Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 as examples of solidarity among member states.
Economic Competitiveness and Energy Policy
On the economic front, von der Leyen identified high energy prices as a key obstacle to competitiveness, attributing these to fossil fuel dependency. She advocated for expanding nuclear and renewable energy production, labeling clean energy as the solution for both affordability and energy independence. Importantly, she backed investments not only in energy sources but also in infrastructure—grids and storage—to ensure reliability. This signals an emphasis on innovation and infrastructure development within the EU's regulatory frameworks to strengthen economic integration.
Policy Initiatives
Concrete policy proposals included launching the Choose Europe and Scale-up Fund initiatives to stimulate innovation, advancing the Savings and Investment Union to deepen capital markets, implementing the AI First Strategy for artificial intelligence adoption, and proposing a 28th legal regime aimed at innovative companies. These indicate a clear orientation toward enhancing EU-level regulatory and financial structures to foster growth and reduce Single Market fragmentation.
Stakeholder Impact
For EU regulatory bodies and national authorities, this means an extension of responsibilities and cooperation in defence and economic policies. EU producers and investors in clean energy and technology sectors may benefit from expanded funding and infrastructure projects, although they may face new regulatory requirements. Consumers could experience more stable energy prices in the long term but will see increased emphasis on supporting nuclear and renewable energy. The overall direction points to strengthening EU powers in security, technology regulation, and economic coordination, balancing national sovereignty with deeper integration.
Von der Leyen’s message reflects a pragmatic and ambitious vision aimed at securing Europe’s safety and prosperity amidst global challenges.
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