Europe, von der Leyen: no social media for children under 13. Canada becomes the first EU associate member

In this regard, Brussels intends to propose limits on the use of social media by young people. “We will adopt a gradual and differentiated approach,” explained Ms von der Leyen. Young people under the age of 13 will not be allowed to access social media. For those aged between 13 and 15, only ‘mini-accounts’ created and supervised by parents will be permitted, with limited functionality and time restrictions. For those aged between 15 and 18, platforms will be obliged to provide safe access.

...on the climate

On the climate front, following a scorching summer across much of the continent, the President of the European Commission has proposed setting up an alliance dedicated to climate risk insurance (Climate Insurance Alliance, in English). She also believes that Europe needs a European plan to combat heatwaves (Heatwave Plan, in English). According to the European Commission, this summer’s heatwave caused 35,000 additional deaths.

On the security front, Ms von der Leyen is convinced that the European Union must work to strengthen its defence systems. Brussels is set to present a European security strategy shortly. The model should be Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which states that ‘Member States may consult one another whenever, in the opinion of any one of them, the territorial integrity, security or political independence of any Member State is threatened’.
A future with Canada

As mentioned, the President of the European Commission has proposed that Canada become an ‘associated country’ of the EU. She told MEPs and the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, who was present in the chamber: ‘We see the world through the same lens: from artificial intelligence to climate change, from the Arctic to geopolitics. We believe that power does not belong to the strongest, the richest or those who shout the loudest, but to all of us.’ The reference is to the United States. The announcement prompted a standing ovation.

There are currently numerous association agreements signed by the European Union (with countries such as Ukraine and those in the Mediterranean region), but the idea of allowing Canada to become an ‘associate member’ of the European Union seems to conceal a much deeper and broader partnership. On closer inspection, this is a response to the aggressiveness of the Trump administration, which in recent months has threatened to annex both Greenland and Canada.

To conclude, one final point taken from today’s speech in Strasbourg concerns relations with China. Brussels and Beijing are negotiating new forms of modus vivendi on trade and economic matters. ‘This dialogue,’ warned President von der Leyen, ‘must now lead to concrete results (…) Let me be clear: we will use every tool at our disposal to restore balance to our relations. Words are important, but actions are even more so.’

As mentioned, the State of the Union address comes at a delicate time. The energy crisis is jeopardising the economic future, whilst right-wing radicalism is on the rise in many countries. The President has kept her distance from these issues, not least because her own centrist majority is hanging in the balance, having shifted to the right on several occasions on issues such as the environment and immigration. In effect, her response was to propose a new Congress of Europe (the last one dates back to 1948), 70 years on from the signing of the Treaties of Rome.