Von der Leyen to unveil social media curbs for children

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is expected to spell out details of a proposed EU-wide restriction on social media access for children in her State of the Union speech in Strasbourg.

Ms von der Leyen is also expected to pitch for greater European independence in a hostile geopolitical climate during her eagerly awaited address in Strasbourg shortly.

A year ago, Ms von der Leyen delivered a clarion call for an independent Europe, free and at peace.

One year on, the geopolitical climate has become even more challenging. Russia has escalated its hybrid attacks on European soil, with more frequent drone incursions.

War in the Middle East has sharply undermined the EU economy and pushed up energy prices, and while US President Donald Trump may have held off on further escalating a tariff war, he remains temperamentally hostile to the bloc.

The trade deficit with China is now running at over €1 billion per day and Ms von der Leyen is expected to signal greater readiness to hit back by using trade restrictions.

Moves to deliver carbon neutrality continue to face opposition, especially from the far right, and yet Europe has undergone a torrid summer of forest fires and drought.

The surge of Moroccan migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in July has reopened the migration debate and it is expected that Ms von der Leyen will promise to further tighten controls and bolster the EU's border agency, Frontex.

A centrepiece of the speech is expected to be a ban, or partial ban, on social media access for under-13s, an issue on which Ms von der Leyen has arguably staked her reputation.