The 2025 State of the Union address by the EU Commission’s President von der Leyen delivered a powerful message: Europe is “in a fight” on all fronts. The proposals outline a new, more assertive Europe, one that is strategically independent and ready to use appropriate legal and regulatory tools to secure its future, the below two being the most challenging topics to address in the near future.

Creation of a new legal framework for defense – the EU Commission President’s emphasis on a self-reliant Europe is set to transform the legal landscape of the defense sector. Initiatives such as the “Qualitative Military Edge” program and the “Readiness 2030” plan will likely lead to new legislative frameworks designed to boost Europe’s defense industrial base.

Cementing the EU’s digital and economic sovereignty – Von der Leyen’s vision extends to the digital realm, promising a new era of regulation to protect Europe’s “tech sovereignty.” The proposed multi-billion euro “Scaleup Europe Fund” is designed to keep promising young companies in critical sectors like AI and biotech from leaving the EU, potentially leading to new legal measures to protect European intellectual property and prevent foreign takeovers. This signals a growing regulatory appetite to shape not only the economy but also the very fabric of digital life.

If successfully implemented, the proposals from the 2025 State of the Union speech are set to mark a significant moment in the evolution of the EU, with an important shift towards a more self-reliant and strategically independent bloc.