The European Union is creating a specialized company to secure the supply of essential minerals to bolster its independence from foreign providers. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the establishment of a new European corporation for critical raw materials on Sept. 16, alongside a pledge to use all available tools to rebalance the relationship with China.

Von der Leyen also detailed a coming water scarcity initiative and stated that the future of the region should be controlled by Europeans. The State of the European Union address defined a strategy for a more powerful and self-sufficient bloc that can manage its own strategic resources and diplomatic ties without external dominance.