Von der Leyen faces tightrope walk in upcoming SOTEU address

Ahead of her State of the European Union speech on September 16, EU politicians signal that von der Leyen must navigate a politically volatile landscape, balancing competing demands from member states and the European Parliament. The characterization by Bernd Lange, chair of the EP's trade committee, underscores the fragility of the Commission's position. The speech is expected to set the tone for the EU's political agenda, but its content remains uncertain.