The EU must be prepared to project its power more assertively as it can no longer rely on a "rules-based" system against threats and must determine if its institutions and systems help or hinder its credibility, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday (March 9).

Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, von der Leyen said that while the EU would "always defend and uphold the rules-based system," Europe could no "no longer rely on it" to defend its interests.

The head of the EU's executive branch called on Europe to "project power more assertively" and make security the "organising principle" in the EU's industrial, trade, tech and data policies.

Von der Leyen added that the EU would deliver on its commitments on financing for Ukraine, saying the bloc would stand by Ukraine "no matter what is happening elsewhere" and pledging to push through a 90 billion euro loan for Kyiv.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (MARCH 9, 2026) (EUROPEAN UNION - Access All)

1. EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"But at the same time, these attempts to label today's world mask two tangible and structural realities which are far from important for Europe. The first is that Europe can no longer be a custodian of the old world order—for a world that has gone and will not return. We will always defend and uphold the rules-based system that we helped to build with our allies, but we can no longer rely on it as the only way to defend our interests."

3. WHITE FLASH

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"You will hear different views about whether the conflict in Iran is a war of choice or a war of necessity. But I believe this debate partly misses the point, because Europe must focus on the reality of the situation, to see the world as it actually is today. And I want to be clear, there should be no tears shed for the Iranian regime."

5. WHITE FLASH

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"And I think the people of Iran deserve freedom, dignity, and the right to decide their own future, even if we know this will be fraught with danger and instability during and after the war. And beyond this, we can now see a regional conflict with unintended consequences. And the spillover is already a reality today. Whether on energy or finance, trade or transport, or the displacement of people."

7. WHITE FLASH

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"We need to be prepared to project our power more assertively. For instance, to counter aggression and foreign interference with all of our tools, whether economic or diplomatic, whether technological or military, or by being much more pragmatic when it comes to doing business around the world."

9. WHITE FLASH

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"In fact, security must become the organizing principle of our action. It must be the default mindset from defence to data, from industry to infrastructure, from technologies to trade."

11. WHITE FLASH

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"Europe will always stand with Ukraine, no matter what is happening elsewhere. We all want this horror and bloodshed to end. And no one wants more peace than the people of Ukraine. But the war must end in a way that does not sow the seeds for future conflicts."

13. WHITE FLASH

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"But I can assure you that we will, in this case, deliver on our commitments because our credibility and, more importantly, our security is at stake. So for us, it is paramount and crystal clear we will deliver this 90 billion euro loan."

15. WHITE FLASH

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, URSULA VON DER LEYEN, SAYING:

"And the same logic applies to enlargement. There has been much debate on how we deliver in a timely manner on its merits-based process. But it is of paramount importance that we get ready by bringing the Western Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine closer to our Union, already now. Enlargement is not about ideology. It is a matter of European common interest and security. And we must be ready to deliver as soon as the time comes."

17. VON DER LEYEN SPEAKING