Category: European Commission (video statements)

Source: European Commission (video statements)

"Our Single Market is one of Europe’s greatest success stories." – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

On 20 May 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participated in the European Parliament Plenary Session in Strasbourg, France.

In her speech, President von der Leyen hailed the Single Market as Europe’s backbone—driving prosperity, setting global standards, and uniting 450 million people—but warned it must evolve to meet modern challenges.

She outlined six priorities: completing the market by cutting red tape, making it digital-first with AI and semiconductor investments (like the Chips Act 2.0), embedding sustainability to spur green innovation, boosting strategic independence through secure supply chains and trade deals, ensuring inclusion via smoother labour mobility, and strengthening the social dimension with an anti-poverty strategy, childcare support, and a Quality Jobs Act.

Urging action on the "One Europe, One Market" plan, she framed the Single Market’s future as vital to Europe’s competitiveness and resilience.

For the full speech of the President, see here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_26_1110

Watch on the Audiovisual Portal of the European Commission: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-289505

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pW1mhm09Fs

Source: European Commission (video statements)

In a landmark address from Gothenburg, Sweden, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen joins Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to unveil the "mother of all deals"—a historic EU-India trade agreement covering 2 billion people (25% of global GDP) with 90% tariff cuts.

This $2 trillion market deal will boost trade, create jobs, and strengthen supply chains, while paving the way for deeper investment, security, and tech cooperation—including AI, semiconductors, and space exploration.

🔹 Key Highlights: ✅ Trade: 90% tariff cuts, record-speed implementation by end of 2026 ✅ Investment: Next phase to de-risk supply chains and diversify economic ties ✅ Security & Defence: Joint naval exercises, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure protection ✅ Tech & Space: AI governance, semiconductor collaboration, and EU-India space missions ✅ Sweden-India Partnership: Commitment to double bilateral trade in 5 years

📌 Why This Matters: This deal marks a new era in EU-India relations, countering global instability with economic resilience, strategic autonomy, and shared prosperity.

Chapters
0:00 – Introduction: Gothenburg as a Trade Hub
0:25 – "Mother of All Deals": $2T Market & 90% Tariff Cuts
1:10 – From Gothenburg to Gujarat: Jobs & Prosperity
1:45 – Fast-Tracking the Deal: Business Event & Day-One Benefits
2:20 – Next Step: Investment Agreement to De-Risk Supply Chains
3:00 – Sweden-India Strategic Partnership: Doubling Trade in 5 Years
3:40 – Security & Defence: Naval Exercises & Cybersecurity
4:30 – Tech & AI: Semiconductors, Digital Systems & Supply Chain Resilience
5:10 – "Shooting for the Stars": EU-India Space Cooperation
6:00 – Conclusion: A New Era in EU-India Relations

Watch on the Audiovisual Portal of the European Commission:

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68yAWeSKdlc

Source: European Commission (video statements)

Missed the headlines this week? Here’s the Weekly Wrap of EU news from 9–15 May.
Europe day : https://youtube.com/shorts/iu7446EdoXQ?si=gZzkHRSZVGYNT8Qm
Hantavirus situation : https://youtube.com/shorts/Nqwb9dGfqc4?si=doylmqWaTgTiaii8
Call for the return of abducted Ukrainian children: https://youtube.com/shorts/ls39N5gVT6M?si=LgFZ6pwLaTKU7kk2
Summit on AI and Children : https://youtube.com/shorts/SYa_ZJkrs3I?si=PIg3NYuH160sB_nf
One journey, one ticket : https://youtube.com/shorts/7jcB3YNSvsw

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EX5V7J7Tgnw

Source: European Commission (video statements)

The Commission adopted the Passengers Package, that will facilitate mobility within Europe. This means that passenger will only need one ticket, regardless of booking multiple trains to cross European borders. One ticket, one journey. Find out more about the passenger package and how you are protected while traveling: Passenger Package – Mobility and Transport – European Commission

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7jcB3YNSvsw

Source: European Commission (video statements)

"The question is not whether young people should have access to social media, the question is whether social media should have access to young people."

On 12 May, 2026, Commission President von der Leyen gave th keynote speech at the European Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Children Copenhagen stating that Europe must reclaim childhood in the digital age by putting children’s safety above tech profits.

President von der Leyen called for stronger accountability for social media platforms, stricter protections against addictive and harmful online design, reliable age verification, and a possible minimum age for social media access.

The EU had already taken several key measures the EU has already taken — and plans to strengthen — to protect children online:

• Enforcing the Digital Services Act (DSA) against platforms with addictive or harmful designs.
• Using the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to prevent abuse of market power by major tech companies.
• Launching investigations into platforms such as TikTok, Meta, and X over child safety concerns.
• Creating a Special Panel of Experts on Child Safety Online to guide future action.
• Considering a legal proposal for a social media delay/minimum age requirement for children.
• Developing an EU age verification app with high privacy standards and open-source technology.
• Integrating age verification into European Digital Wallets.
• Advancing the principle of “safety by design” for online platforms and AI systems.
• Preparing a Digital Fairness Act targeting addictive design practices, attention-capture tactics, and subscription traps.
• Making children’s rights a priority in AI regulation and development.
• Promoting media literacy and digital education to help children think critically online.

Watch on the Audiovisual Portal of the European Commission:
https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/stories/M-009986

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtgr71Fe5pY

Source: European Commission (video statements)

The EU is strengthening efforts to better protect children online.

Speaking in Copenhagen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted concerns around addictive platform design, cyberbullying, harmful content and AI-related risks affecting minors.

The European Commission is considering:
• Minimum age requirements for social media
• Stronger age verification tools
• New rules on addictive online features

“Children are not commodities.”

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SYa_ZJkrs3I

Source: European Commission (video statements)

"Every child held captive is one too many," asserted Commission President von der Leyen via video message on 11th May 2026. On that day, representatives of the European Union, Ukraine, Canada and international partners met in Brussels for the high-level meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.

In her video message, President Ursula von der Leyen advocates for the return of deported children from Russia. Until today, about 20,000 abducted Ukrainian children remain in Russian institutions.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JXc-QdpLdU

Source: European Commission (video statements)

The EU has announced new sanctions targeting individuals and organisations accused of deporting and indoctrinating Ukrainian children.
Nearly 20,500 children have reportedly been forcibly transferred since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans aimed at holding those responsible accountable and supporting efforts to return the children home.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ls39N5gVT6M

Source: European Commission (video statements)

The risk of hantavirus for the wider European public is currently assessed as LOW, according to the latest evaluation by the European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

From the very first notifications, the European Commission has coordinated the response, including most recently the repatriation flights for EU citizens.

Four flights operated yesterday under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism — applying strict health protocols to protect passengers, crew, and operational staff.

Key points from this update:
🟢The risk for the general European public is low
🛡️ Health coordination and protocols applied throughout with ECDC on the ground to provide expert advice
✈️ 4 repatriation flights coordinated over the weekend under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, under strict infection prevention and control measures
🇪🇸 EU actively supported evacuations conducted by Spain
📢 The European Commission will continue to communicate verified updates as the situation evolves. The Commission is working closely with Member States and international partners to monitor the situation and ensure the safety of EU citizens.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Nqwb9dGfqc4

Source: European Commission (video statements)

Europe is democracy. Freedom. Unity. And yes, football too.
On Europe Day, President Ursula von der Leyen reflects on what makes us uniquely European: our shared values, our diversity, and the concrete ways Europe shapes our lives, from Erasmus to start-ups to the best quality of life in the world.
Because Europe isn’t just an institution. It’s each and every one of us.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iu7446EdoXQ