Ursula von der Leyen gives EU ‘State of the Union’ and wants a ‘stronger, independent Europe’ and Canada to be an ‘associate member’

Dear @MarkJCarney we want to bring the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible.

I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to being the first associate member of the EU.

And create a common prosperity and economic security space. https://t.co/GqIjGBz6aY

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 16, 2026

COGwriter

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gave her annual State of the European Union message:

State of the Union …

16 September 2026

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

With this iconic Charles Dickens quote, Ursula von der Leyen began her one-hour-long State of the Union speech in Strasbourg, laying out solutions to cope with the “exceptional” challenges and the “incredible” change that Europe is undergoing.

“In this world, Europe has chosen to forge its own path. And a stronger, independent Europe is now emerging,” she told lawmakers.

“Europe is there for Europeans. And that in the cold fragility of today’s world, only Europe can provide true sovereignty to Europeans.” https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/09/16/state-of-the-union-five-takeaways-from-ursula-von-der-leyens-speech

Oddly, shortly after saying the above, notice what else she said:

‘Associate membership’ for Canada

This was the day’s jaw-dropping moment.

The European Commission president offered to create a tailor-made status of “associate membership” to bring Canada ever closer to the bloc.

“We share one ocean, one set of values, one way of seeing the world. And we will now build our shared future as well,” she told Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who flew from Ottawa to Strasbourg to attend the speech as guest of honour.

She hailed the dawn of an “alliance for the future” to deepen EU-Canada cooperation in areas such as economic security, intelligent manufacturing, cutting-edge technology, defence, energy, critical minerals and batteries, as well as the Arctic region.

However, details of what “associate membership” would mean in practice were left unsaid. It remains unclear how it would fit in the current structures of the EU treaties. A previous attempt by the German chancellor to grant “associate membership” to Ukraine swiftly disappeared after backlash from capitals.

Von der Leyen simply said the newfound status would bring EU-Canada relations “to the highest level possible”, prompting loud applause inside the hemicycle.

Ahead of the speech, a poll conducted by Abacus Data showed that 49% of Canadians supported EU membership, while 30% opposed it and 21% were unsure.

These are exceptional numbers for a country that lies on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean and reflect the political damage inflicted by US President Donald Trump’s punitive tariffs and repeated attempts to annex Canada. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/09/16/state-of-the-union-five-takeaways-from-ursula-von-der-leyens-speech

Canada is not in Europe. But both the European Union and Canada are desperate to increase trade relations because of statements and policies of Donald Trump.

I made a post back in 2009, about Canada considering closer ties to the European Union in order to be less reliant on the USA (see Canada Looking to the EU).

Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has himself taken several steps to be closer to the European Union (see Canada’s Mark Carney wants a ‘unique alliance’ with the European Union).

That said, let’s look more at what Ursula von der Leyen said:

16 September 2026

STRASBOURG ― Ursula von der Leyen used her State of the Union speech Wednesday to rally against a world that’s making Europe less powerful and poorer, where AI is threatening centuries of certainty and in which climate change risks destroying it.

In a longer and more passionate speech than the EU has been used to, the European Commission president made the case for “independence” ― economically, militarily and technologically.

“Europe has chosen to forge its own path,” she said, in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, …

“This is a Europe that stands up for each other,” she said, referencing two specific examples ― Ukraine and Greenland, neither of which are in the EU. She didn’t mention either of their antagonists, Russia and the U.S., by name.

“Europe is there for Europeans,” she said. “And that in the cold fragility of today’s world, only Europe can provide true sovereignty to Europeans.” …

And while von der Leyen said she was an “AI optimist,” she warned that the technology “will soon be in the hands of adversaries who see the world very differently to us.” The need is to move AI “from the screen to the real economy and society. On the factory floor. In the hospital ward. In precision agriculture. In our energy grids. For autonomous driving. For defense.” https://www.politico.eu/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-state-of-the-union-europe-independence-ai-climate/

What President von der Leyen wants is for the European Union to be INDEPENDENT OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARILY AND TECHNOLOGICALLY. Because she apparently would also prefer this economically, she is reaching out to Canada as well as other lands around the world.  Although she was cautious about her words, she wants Europe to be stronger than the USA.

So let me add that at least partially for its disdain for Donald Trump, Europeans are pushing for independence from the United States.

Notice also the following from my free eBook Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency:

The Bible is clear that there will be problems in Europe (Daniel 11:41-43), yet it also shows that Europe will undergo several reorganizations (Revelation chapters 16-18), and the two reorganizations in Revelation 17:12-13 specifically will not turn out well for the USA (cf. Daniel 11:39) or the Arab world (cf. Daniel 11:40-43). …

While the Bible shows the Europeans will have difficulties being together (Daniel 2:41-43), it also shows that they will reorganize and unite (Revelation 17:12-13). Donald Trump has been pointed to by various European leaders as ‘proof’ that Europe needs more unification and distance from the USA. …

Donald Trump … statements are getting more in Europe to consider that they need to reorganize …

The Bible shows that Europe will go through at least two reorganizations until it gets to the point of fully supporting the King of the North/Beast power per Revelation 17:12-13. And later, it will change to betray the Church of Rome (Revelation 17:9,15-18). …

This European Beast power will, after it has a prophesied reorganization and rises up, destroy the United States (Daniel 11:39). And the leader of this power is supposed to rise up “When the transgressors have reached their fullness,” (Daniel 8:23). …

Because of some of Donald Trump’s statements, back in late 2015, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, former German Defense Minister, called Donald Trump “that blonde lunatic named Donald.”[i] And even though he did not like Donald Trump’s reelection in 2024, he said it was good news in that it was a final wake up call for Europe to improve its own security and take other steps to protect itself because of his policies and possible actions.[ii]

Furthermore, at a conference in 2025, Herr Guttenberg referred to “bully Trump” and said Europe needed to be achieve an independent military defense so that it no longer needs to dependent on the USA.[iii] An unintended consequence of Donald Trump’s presidency may be the rise of Barron Guttenberg.

Europe will go in a direction that USA leaders, including its ‘foreign policy experts,’ do not comprehend (Daniel 11:39; Isaiah 10:5-11).

When my wife and I were in Europe in late 2016, many of the Europeans we spoke to were essentially of the view that the USA is supposed to be the leader of the West, so how could it possibly elect Donald Trump? We were told this by Europeans from countries like Switzerland, Spain, and the Netherlands. European disdain for Donald Trump and how they perceive his leading of the USA is real. …

Some in Europe have long wanted to be independent of the USA. …

Many in the USA do not seem to realize that once Europeans are spending more for their militaries, they will also expect to have more independence from the USA as to how military might will be used. …

While Donald Trump seems to believe that his policies are best for the United States, notice some unintended consequences of them: …

• Pushing against Europe’s unity is encouraging the Europeans, which are prophesied to have unity difficulties (cf. Daniel 2:41-43), to try harder to unify, which will happen after at least two reorganizations (Revelation 17:12-13).
• By breaking political norms and acting like a ‘strong man’ this will help Europeans being more accepting of their beast ‘strong man’ (Revelation 13:1-10; 17:13).
• Donald Trump’s statements will help promote the rise of stronger European leaders like Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.

Although, overall, the European nations have not paid for their defense to the amount they have suggested they would, pressuring them to spend more will 1) encourage them to be independent of the USA and 2) put Europe in a position where it has a great army (Daniel 11:25), many ships (Daniel 11:40), and access to nuclear weapons (cf. Deuteronomy 29:23-25; Isaiah 9:19-21;Ezekiel 6:6), which will help it conquer the USA, which is the military power with the strongest fortresses (cf. Daniel 11:39).

[i] ^{Wish List or Reality? Digital Trends in 2016 | Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg | hub conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgdZUA96UBU. Posted 12/11/ 2015}

[ii] ^{Zu Guttenberg: Nach Ampel-Knall hält Trump Deutschland für ein leichtes Opfer. Focus Online, November 2024}

[iii] ^{Winkler T. Geeint gegen den “Bully Trump.” MeinBezirk, January 9, 2025}

Europe is prophesied to reorganize and put in power a man who is even more bold and egotistical than Donald Trump (cf. Daniel 11:29-38; Revelation 13:1-10; 17:12-13).