Europe's cruel summer Rising pressure facing the EU

When Ursula von der Leyen arrived in the vast debating chamber in the European parliament in Strasbourg, she greeted MEP leaders of some of Europe's political groups warmly.

- Jennifer Rankin

When Ursula von der Leyen arrived in the vast debating chamber in the European parliament in Strasbourg, she greeted MEP leaders of some of Europe's political groups warmly. Wearing a trim jacket, the European Commission president smiled, shook hands and exchanged air kisses with politicians who had front-row seats for her state of the union address.

The speech on Wednesday had a stark message: Europe must fight for its place in an "unforgiving" world, in which it is facing major powers that are either "ambivalent or openly hostile" towards it.

The response to her speech was equally tough. "We are losing Europeans; we're not taking them with us. We're weak when they want protection," Valérie Hayer, the leader of the centrist Renew group, told her. "The summer was very painful," said the Green leader Bas Eickhout. "Europe has entered a world of power, yet we are still playing chess in a boxing match."

These were more than routine rhetorical flourishes. This summer was one of harsh realities for the EU. The US trade deal von der Leyen signed with Donald Trump in July was an unequal bargain, decried by right and left as a humiliation for Europe.

Russia escalated its attacks on Ukraine, while EU leaders were left wincing at the spectacle of Trump's red carpet welcome for the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska. Israel's war on Gaza continued relentlessly, while EU countries were unable to agree on modest sanctions against Benjamin Netanyahu's government.