BRUSSELS, (Unib Rashid) — The European Union has announced plans to establish a European Security Council in cooperation with other countries and partners as part of efforts to strengthen security and respond collectively to emerging threats.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the announcement during her annual State of the Union 2026 address to the European Parliament on Wednesday.

Von der Leyen said Europe needs its own framework to respond to hybrid attacks and strengthen coordination among EU member states.

She outlined plans for an emergency security protocol under which, once activated by an EU member state, all member countries would coordinate with one another to deliver a common European response.

“We will also put forward our ideas on how to make a European Security Council a reality,” von der Leyen said, adding that the initiative would involve Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Norway, Canada and other partners.

The proposed mechanism is aimed at strengthening cooperation on European security and enabling closer coordination with countries that share common security interests.

The European Commission president delivers a State of the Union address to the European Parliament each year, setting out the Commission’s priorities and outlining its key policy initiatives for the year ahead.