European Security Council proposed by von der Leyen

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday proposed setting up a “European Security Council” involving partners such as Britain and Ukraine, as Europe responds to security risks linked to Russia.

“For a long time, we have discussed a leaders' format focused on the security of our continent, with partners like Canada, Norway, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and others involved,” von der Leyen said in her annual State of the European Union address. “This is even more urgent now, given the nature and scale of the risks at play.”

Europe says Moscow is carrying out a campaign of hybrid attacks intended to undermine support for Ukraine. Von der Leyen said Europe needed its own “counter-hybrid playbook” and a shared approach to incidents that fall below armed aggression but threaten national security.

She also said she wanted an “emergency security protocol” that would allow any EU member state to convene urgent talks in a crisis.

Von der Leyen pledged stronger support for Kyiv as Russia steps up bombardments before winter. She said the EU and its partners would provide humanitarian aid and reinforce Ukraine's power and heating supplies.

She also backed plans to jointly develop with Ukraine an affordable, modular missile-defence system, and promised a new European instrument for strategic enablers to strengthen key military capabilities.