Finance
EU is at a crossroads towards more independence, von der Leyen says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 21, 2026
1 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 21, 2026
1 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Ursula von der Leyen stresses the need for the EU to hasten its independence efforts, focusing on defense and security in Ukraine and the Arctic.
STRASBOURG, France, Jan 21 (Reuters) - The EU needs to speed up its push for independence to defend itself in a fast-changing world, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.
"We are at a crossroads. Europe prefers dialogue and solutions – but we are fully prepared to act, if necessary, with unity, urgency and determination," von der Leyen said in a speech in European Parliament.
"In this increasingly lawless world, Europe needs its own levers of power," she said.
"We know them: A strong economy, a thriving single market and industrial base, a strong innovation and technology capacity, united societies and above a real capacity to defend ourselves."
Von der Leyen said it was "more important than ever" to keep focusing on Ukraine, while the EU would work with the US and other partners to strengthen security in the Arctic region.
(Reporting by Inti Landauro and Lili Bayer, editing by Bart Meijer)
Economic growth refers to an increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over a period of time, typically measured by the rise in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The European Commission is the executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the day-to-day operations of the EU.
Security in the EU context refers to the measures and policies implemented to protect member states from external threats, including military, economic, and cyber threats.
Innovation in finance refers to the introduction of new ideas, products, or methods in the financial sector, aimed at improving services, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
Strategic independence refers to the ability of a state or organization to make decisions and act autonomously in its interests, particularly in areas like security and economic policy.
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