With Prime Minister Mark Carney in attendance as a specially invited speaker, it was a given that Canada would be mentioned in the speech.
Yet von der Leyen went further than most people anticipated.
We see the world with the same eyes. Europe and Canada believe in democracy – a power that belongs to all of us, not just the strongest, richest or loudest. That is why I want to work with you to open the door to making Canada the EU's first associate member, she said, among other things.
Exactly what that status means is, however, highly unclear.
We will see exactly what this will develop into, but it is a collaboration for the future and that is what is important, von der Leyen's Environment and Water Commissioner Jessika Roswall (M) told TT in Strasbourg.
Age limit online
The second main news item in the speech was more expected and at the same time significantly more emotional.
With a serious expression and a trembling voice, von der Leyen told of a 14-year-old Belgian girl who recently committed suicide after being bullied online.
Enough is enough, declared the Commission President, promising a sharp proposal for new common rules.
"Our children need time to grow into themselves and with others. They even need time to be bored. No social media for children under 13," von der Leyen said.
Three levels
The proposal, which is to be presented as early as Thursday, consists, according to leaked pieces, of three levels, where children under 13 years of age will only be allowed access to particularly secure sites with parental permission, while 13- to 15-year-olds are given restrictions regarding contacts and screen time, and self-created accounts are only allowed from the age of 15.
The announcement is welcomed by several of the Swedish members of the EU Parliament.
Awesome! It takes a woman of Ursula von der Leyen's caliber to put her foot down against the tech giants, says Karin Karlsbro (L).
"Very, very good. It was an election promise we had before the last EU election," says Heléne Fritzon (S).
Security and climate
As usual, the speech also consisted of a long list of other commitments and plans from the European Commission, for example about a European Security Council to discuss with like-minded countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Ukraine and Norway.
In addition, a special “heat wave plan” is promised.
This was the summer of truth. Almost no part of Europe escaped, von der Leyen warned.
Facts: Other proposals in the EU base's speech
Here are some additional proposals and promises made in Ursula von der Leyen's annual State of the EU speech:
* Establish a crisis clause that brings all EU countries together for a meeting if anyone feels threatened.
* Prevent countries from introducing tougher rules in the internal market than what is commonly agreed upon.
* Develop a new "initiative" against water shortages.
* Introduce new emergency measures to be taken in the event of sudden influxes across external borders such as in Spanish Ceuta this summer.
* Discuss future issues in a major European Congress in connection with next year's 70th anniversary.
Source: European Commission .
