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Von der Leyen pushes «Article 4», Greece fears war involvement

Von der Leyen pushes «Article 4», Greece fears war involvement

New security architecture for Europe - Ursula von der Leyen wants a «European Article 4» and a new supranational response mechanism to hybrid threats

A call to arms for our country is being prepared by Brussels, opening Aeolus's bag for a nightmarish entanglement of Greece in the most dangerous flashpoints of war.
Under the pretext of a «new security architecture» and the activation of a European «Article 4» for hybrid threats, Ursula von der Leyen attempts to transform the EU into a supranational war machine, essentially ceding the national sovereignty of member states.
The shock proposal for the creation of an expanded European Security Council, with the participation of Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Canada, raises enormous questions and reasonable fears.
According to analysts, this new mechanism is only a step away from dragging Greek soldiers straight to the front line, trapping our country in dangerous geopolitical games with no return.
Specifically, in a move that could drastically alter the security architecture of Europe, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen paves the way for the creation of a European Security Council, in which not only EU member states will participate, but also nations such as Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Canada.
The proposal was presented on September 16, 2026, during her annual State of the European Union address, coming at a time when Brussels describes the European security environment as increasingly dangerous.
The plan is not limited to just another European committee.
Ursula von der Leyen essentially calls for a new mechanism that will allow EU states to mobilize collectively when confronting severe threats that do not yet reach the threshold of a conventional military attack.
Cyberattacks, sabotage, arson, and drone incidents now take center stage in European security policy.
The Commission president proposed the creation of an Emergency Security Protocol, a mechanism that will function as the European equivalent of NATO's Article 4.
The logic is simple yet politically highly significant: if a member state deems itself threatened by a serious incident, it will be able to activate the mechanism and convene the remaining member states so that a coordinated European response can take place.
This does not automatically constitute military intervention or an equivalent to NATO's Article 5. Article 4 pertains to consultations when a member believes its security or territorial integrity is threatened.
Nevertheless, the political significance of the proposal is difficult to ignore.
Ursula von der Leyen herself spoke of the need to create a European «counter-hybrid playbook», namely a common response plan against threats situated below the threshold of open warfare.
And the message from Brussels is clear: Europe considers that the security environment has changed.

«Hostile world» and threats inside Europe

In her speech, Ursula von der Leyen argued that Europe faces a world where threats no longer stem solely from traditional military conflict.
She pointed to cyberattacks, sabotage, and drone incidents, while linking the new initiatives to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Indeed, she cited threats that have already appeared on European soil, mentioning incidents in Denmark, Lithuania, and Poland, as well as the attempted drone attack in Leipzig.
This development gives rise to a new political question:
Can the European Union gradually transform from an economic and political union into an autonomous security pillar?
This is precisely the greatest stake behind the proposals of Ursula von der Leyen.
The proposed European Security Council will not concern exclusively the 27 member states.
Ursula von der Leyen spoke of a new format of leaders involving partners such as Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Canada.
This represents a particularly expanded conception of European security.
And perhaps the most interesting element is that several of these countries do not belong to the European Union.
Norway and Canada, for instance, are closely linked to the EU economically and strategically, whereas the United Kingdom left the Union following Brexit.
Ukraine, on the other hand, stands at the heart of the largest military conflict in Europe in decades.
The proposal of Ursula von der Leyen regarding Canada is even more striking.
Addressing Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney personally, who was present in the chamber of the European Parliament, the Commission president declared that she wants to pave the way for Canada to become the first «associate member» of the European Union.
«I want to work with you to open the door so that Canada becomes the first associate member of the EU», she declared.
The proposal does not currently constitute a regular form of full accession to the EU and requires substantial institutional and political elaboration.
Nonetheless, the direction is clear: Brussels and Ottawa are examining a far deeper strategic relationship, which could encompass defense, energy, critical raw materials, technology, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

The new Europe of security

Ursula von der Leyen presented the new architecture as an effort to strengthen European strategic autonomy.
The EU is increasing defense spending and promoting joint armaments and industrial programs, while the Commission president maintained that Europe requires greater capabilities in areas such as air defense, missile defense, space, cyberspace, and strategic transport.
The message is that Europe wants to be able to react more swiftly in a crisis.
The big question, however, remains:
Where does NATO end and where does the new European security architecture begin?
Analysts have already warned that a new mechanism could create overlaps with existing NATO structures if a clear division of competencies is not established.
The package of proposals from Ursula von der Leyen does not concern security alone.
The European Commission is also advancing the so-called EU Kids Act, aimed at restricting minors' access to social media.
The proposal envisages restrictions for children under 13, while for ages 13 to 15, limited access and parental supervision are being considered.
At the same time, the EU is advancing initiatives to address extreme weather events, including through a «Climate Insurance Alliance».
In other words, the agenda presented in Brussels simultaneously touches upon defense, the economy, technology, climate, and the everyday lives of European citizens.

Fierce attack from MEPs

The proposal by Ursula von der Leyen sparked, as anticipated, political backlash.
MEPs launched a fierce attack against the Commission president.
They accused her of policies that, in their view, have burdened Europeans through taxes, bureaucracy, immigration policy, and environmental regulations.
Concurrently, they pointed to the EU's agricultural and industrial policies and attacked Ursula von der Leyen over the well-known political controversies surrounding the Pfizer vaccines case and the text messages she exchanged with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.
Many utilized particularly harsh language, characterizing Ursula von der Leyen even as a «racist against Europeans».
These specific formulations represent a political stance expressed by Afroditi Latinopoulou and not an established fact.
In any case, the blueprint of Ursula von der Leyen remains at the stage of a political proposal and requires further institutional processing.
Yet the direction she outlined is unambiguous: a Europe that wants to confront threats on its own.
A new Security Council. An «Article 4» style mechanism. A closer link with Britain, Norway, Ukraine, and Canada.
Deeper defense cooperation. And a Canada called upon to become the first «associate» partner of the EU.
Whether this new architecture will constitute an authentic European deterrence mechanism or lead to yet another parallel bureaucratic structure alongside NATO is a question that will be judged in practice.
One thing is certain, however: the Europe of 2026 is now openly discussing its security in terms that would have been deemed unthinkable until just a few years ago.

 

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