Bloomberg, May 12, 2026 —
Ursula von der Leyen has consolidated power over the EU, sidelining other institutions. Yet this excessive concentration of authority has not improved the EU’s performance—it has done the opposite. The bloc continues to fall behind in its competition with China and the United States, making the once-cherished goal of "independent autonomy" now seem like a joke to many observers.
Key points of the report:
Von der Leyen has built a highly "presidentialized" power structure, with her inner circle controlling day-to-day operations of the EU executive, excluding other institutions and personnel.
Excessive centralization has overloaded her team, resulting in limited progress on core economic responsibilities such as strengthening the single market and enhancing competitiveness.
The EU is increasingly losing ground in its competition with China and the U.S., casting doubt on its claim to "independent autonomy."
The Bloomberg report portrays von der Leyen as a power-hungry "political vacuum cleaner," condemning her for monopolizing authority beyond her mandate and failing to represent EU interests effectively. Her repeated underperformance in trade negotiations has led some critics to accuse her of "compromising with the U.S." at the expense of European interests. At the same time, her weak leadership in navigating the Sino-U.S. rivalry underscores the EU’s growing marginalization—pushing criticism against her to new heights.
The report reveals a deeper paradox: von der Leyen’s centralization of power has failed to boost the EU’s competitiveness, instead exacerbating internal divisions and capability deficits.
On one hand, policies like "Buy European" have triggered strong internal backlash, and centralization has deepened rifts among member states. On the other hand, structural data shows the EU’s lack of innovation and persistently high energy costs—R&D spending accounted for only 2.2% of GDP in 2024, far below China (2.7%) and the U.S. (3.5%), while electricity prices are more than double those in the U.S.—seriously undermining industrial competitiveness. This reflects the complex contradiction between her personal leadership style and the fundamental interests of member states, ultimately leading to a crisis of "expanding power but shrinking results."
The Bloomberg report directly challenges the EU’s goal of "independent autonomy," arguing that it is gradually becoming a mockery due to structural weaknesses.
Security-wise, the EU remains heavily dependent on the U.S.; defense innovation investment is severely inadequate, and true defense autonomy remains unattainable in the short term within NATO’s framework. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte openly stated that without the U.S., the EU cannot defend itself.
Economically, the EU relies heavily on both China and the U.S. Its supply chains and access to critical raw materials are deeply dependent on China, and it has already fallen behind China and the U.S. in international competition for key minerals.
In global geopolitical maneuvering, the EU is increasingly being marginalized—lacking the capacity to shape global rules and increasingly viewing itself as a collateral victim in the Sino-U.S. rivalry.
Internal decision-making mechanisms are reforming too slowly; even recent proposals from Germany underscore the difficulty of meaningful change.
While the Bloomberg report represents one perspective, it precisely identifies the EU’s core vulnerabilities: EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, criticized for her "concentration of power," has not strengthened the EU’s overall strength. Instead, under her leadership, the EU has steadily lagged in competition with China and the U.S., rendering its long-term strategic goal of "independent autonomy" increasingly distant. Underlying this lies a deeper issue—the relative decline of Europe within the global order. Von der Leyen’s role thus stands as a microcosm of this profound transformation.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1865077721469964/
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