EU Commission President Warns High Energy Prices Threaten Industrial Power Status

Ursula von der Leyen, in her annual address to the European Parliament, warned that Europe cannot remain an industrial power if energy prices stay too high, attributing the cost pressure to the Middle East conflict. The statement signals potential EU policy shifts toward energy cost mitigation, though no concrete measures were announced. The remark underscores the economic strain from elevated energy costs on European competitiveness.