Responding to Russia’s war against Ukraine and tackling Europe’s energy crisis were the main themes of the 2022 State of the European Union annual address from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The President’s speech outlined the EU’s strategic, political and economic priorities and directions for the next working year and beyond across multiple sectors, including the green and digital transition, foreign relations, regional security and the global economy.

As well as pledging continued and unwavering support to Ukraine, the EU’s top executive has proposed an EU-wide solution to the deepening energy crisis, while the Commission also aims to revitalize the European Green Deal – a major policy package aimed at making Europe carbon neutral by 2050 – by focusing on the potential of hydrogen power. In another strategic move, the Commission announced draft legislation to secure supply chains and critical raw materials, while von der Leyen also endorsed stalled trade agreements between the European bloc and Latin American countries.

Below, Aretera provides a summary of this year’s State of the Union address and its implications for Central and Eastern European, as well as Southeast European countries.