Von der Leyen Defends EU Unity in Fiery Speech Ahead of Censure Vote: “Europe Must Stand Together”
In a pivotal address to the European Parliament, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen firmly defended her leadership and called for unity across the continent, as MEPs debated two motions of censure that could, in theory, bring down her Commission. Speaking in Strasbourg on Monday evening, von der Leyen acknowledged Europe’s divisions but warned lawmakers against “falling into traps of disinformation and division,” invoking threats from Russia and instability worldwide.
Opening her remarks with a sober tone, von der Leyen declared: “The world is in the most precarious and perilous state it has been in for decades. And Europe is on high alert.” She cited “reckless airspace incursions,” “economic coercion,” and “ruthless attacks on Ukraine” as clear evidence that Europe faces both external and internal threats. “We are in a period of maximum uncertainty and explosive volatility,” she said, reminding MEPs that she had warned in her State of the Union address that “Europe is in a fight.”
Von der Leyen’s speech was a direct appeal to lawmakers to preserve cohesion within the Union. “Unity does not mean we all agree on every detail,” she said, “but it means rallying around what we have in common — to deliver for Europeans.” She stressed that Europe’s adversaries are “not only exploiting divisions, they are actively inciting them,” pointing to Russian drone incursions into Polish and Estonian airspace and referencing President Vladimir Putin’s Valdai Club speech in Sochi, in which he boasted about “cracks in the edifice of Europe.”
“This is the oldest trick in the book,” von der Leyen warned. “Sow division. Spread disinformation. Create a scapegoat. All to turn Europeans against each other.” She urged Parliament to resist the temptation of internal conflict: “We simply cannot fall for it. The strongest message we can send instead is that of unity.”
Responding indirectly to the two censure motions — one from Patriots for Europe and another from The Left (GUE/NGL) — von der Leyen acknowledged that some MEPs had “legitimate concerns” on issues such as Gaza, Ukraine, trade policy, and relations with the United States. She pledged to engage with Parliament “in whatever format is needed” to address these challenges together, adding: “It is our common responsibility in this dangerous moment in history.”
Closing her address, von der Leyen struck an emotional tone, declaring, “The message we send now will reverberate around Europe and beyond. And that message must be a message of unity — that Europe stands together and delivers together. Long live Europe.”
00:00 – A World in Peril
Von der Leyen warns that the world is in its most dangerous state in decades and that Europe faces growing external and internal threats.
01:10 – “Europe Is in a Fight”
She recalls her State of the Union message, urging unity across Parliament, Member States, and EU institutions to defend democracy and stability.
02:50 – Russia, Disinformation, and Division
Von der Leyen accuses Russia of exploiting and inciting European divisions, warning MEPs not to “fall for the trap” of internal conflict.
05:10 – A Call for Unity: “Long Live Europe”
In her closing appeal, she promises to engage with Parliament on shared challenges — from Gaza to the economy — and calls for a united, resilient Europe.
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