European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gave the 2026 State of the European Union address on 16 September. Von der Leyen proposed a new EU crisis-response mechanism for hybrid attacks, citing growing Russian threats towards Denmark, Lithuania and Poland.
The Commission President stated that Europe ”needs its own counter-hybrid playbook” and that “a mechanism to flank NATO's ‘Article 4'” is required. According to von der Leyen, this “Emergency Security Protocol” would convene all Member States when triggered by one.
Ursula von der Leyen proposed the idea in reference to, among other events, the Russian flare attack against a Danish Air Force Fennec helicopter on 14 September.
During the address, she also proposed to build a "European Security Council" including Norway, Canada, Ukraine and the UK. She also announced a European Instrument for Strategic Enablers, stating that "only a strong and credible European defence posture will guarantee [Europe's] security"
The speech also honoured Rune Kyndal, a Danish wildfire pilot killed in a mid-air collision with his fire liaison officer in Greece this summer. The tribute came alongside renewed EU solidarity with Greenland, which received a €200 million investment package from Brussels this month.