Maria João Rodrigues, president of the think tank “Re-Imagine Europe” and of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), believes that European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen’s State of the Union address fell “short of the ambition it deserved,” mainly because it failed to focus on the digital challenges facing the European Union.
Maria João Rodrigues believes Von der Leyen was right to begin her speech with a call for awareness among European citizens and admits that the EU’s relations with the United States “will never be the same again.” “We are, in fact, entering a new era because there is a confrontation between great powers,” with pressure from Russia and China and “our traditional ally reducing the support it provided us.”
Regarding the trade agreement between the EU and the US, Maria João Rodrigues criticizes the “major concessions” made by Brussels, not only in terms of weapons and energy purchases, but above all for “opening the door to watering down our standards and regulations, for example in the digital sector, and making the European digital strategy completely dependent on American technology.” For Maria João Rodrigues, “the great European dilemma”—”which was reflected in this State of the Union debate”—is that we don’t have the resources for everything. “The EU must support Ukraine in the face of Russian pressure but it must find ways to continue its investment in the green and digital transitions.” Maria João Rodrigues believes that: “There aren’t enough resources for everything that needs to be done.”