# Ursula von der Leyen proposes "Europe's own Article 4" in State of the European Union address

- Source: Nordic Defence Sector (https://nordicdefencesector.com)
- Canonical URL: https://nordicdefencesector.com/en/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-proposes-europe-in-state-of-the-european-union-address
- Published: 2026-09-16
- Author: Daniel Trangeled
- Type: News · Section: Industry · Country: international
- Language: en (original)
- Also available in: de (https://nordicdefencesector.com/de/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-proposes-europe-in-state-of-the-european-union-address.md), dk (https://nordicdefencesector.com/dk/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-proposes-europe-in-state-of-the-european-union-address.md), es (https://nordicdefencesector.com/es/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-proposes-europe-in-state-of-the-european-union-address.md), fi (https://nordicdefencesector.com/fi/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-proposes-europe-in-state-of-the-european-union-address.md), fr (https://nordicdefencesector.com/fr/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-proposes-europe-in-state-of-the-european-union-address.md), it (https://nordicdefencesector.com/it/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-proposes-europe-in-state-of-the-european-union-address.md), no (https://nordicdefencesector.com/no/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-proposes-europe-in-state-of-the-european-union-address.md), pl (https://nordicdefencesector.com/pl/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-proposes-europe-in-state-of-the-european-union-address.md), sv (https://nordicdefencesector.com/sv/article/ursula-von-der-leyen-proposes-europe-in-state-of-the-european-union-address.md)
- Primary source: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_26_1868
- Tags: danmark, greenland, europe, eu, european commission, ursula von der leyen, nato article 4, russian hybrid attacks, litauen, polen, european security council, ukraina, danish air force, russia, denmark, lithuania, poland, ukraine, norway, canada, fennec

> Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, proposed a new crisis-management mechanism in her State of the European Union address, an "Emergency Security Protocol" meant to serve as an EU response to hybrid attacks alongside NATO's Article 4, pointing to Russian threats against Denmark, Lithuania and Poland.

![President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen gives the State of the Union Address 2026](https://imagedelivery.net/XO8UY-c6-LfWgEjQsN8IQw/81082cbd-31af-4d13-5bc1-4982d238f700/public)
*President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen gives the State of the Union Address 2026 · European Union*

**European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gave the 2026 State of the European Union [address](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_26_1868) 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](https://nordicdefencesector.com/en/article/russian-frigate-fires-flares-at-danish-military-helicopter) 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](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/eu-and-greenland-strengthen-partnership-and-engagement-backed-eu200-million-eu-investment) from Brussels this month.

## FAQ

**Vad innebär Ursula von der Leyens föreslagna "Emergency Security Protocol"?**

Emergency Security Protocol är en föreslagen EU-mekanism som ska komplettera NATO:s artikel 4 vid hybridattacker. Enligt von der Leyen skulle protokollet sammankalla samtliga medlemsstater när en av dem utlöser den, som en del av Europas "counter-hybrid playbook". Senast faktagranskad: 2026-09-16.

**Varför föreslog von der Leyen en ny krishanteringsmekanism för hybridattacker?**

Von der Leyen hänvisade till växande ryska hot mot Danmark, Litauen och Polen, inklusive en rysk fregatts fackelattack mot en dansk Fennec-helikopter den 14 september. Dessa incidenter användes som exempel på behovet av ett gemensamt europeiskt svar på hybridhot. Senast faktagranskad: 2026-09-16.

**Vilka länder ska ingå i det föreslagna "European Security Council"?**

Von der Leyen föreslog att Norge, Kanada, Ukraina och Storbritannien ska ingå i det nya europeiska säkerhetsrådet. Förslaget presenterades under State of the European Union-talet 2026, tillsammans med ett European Instrument for Strategic Enablers för gemensamma försvarsförmågor. Senast faktagranskad: 2026-09-16.

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