The President of the European Commission, deliver his State of the Union Address

Every year in September, the President of the European Commission delivers a State of the Union Address before the European Parliament, taking stock of achievements of the past year and presenting priorities for the year ahead. The President also sets out how the European Commission will address the most pressing challenges the European Union is facing. The speech is followed by a plenary debate.

State of the Union

Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission, will deliver his State of the Union Address on 12 September 2018.
Every year in September, the President of the European Commission delivers his State of the Union Address before the European Parliament, taking stock of achievements of the past year and presenting priorities for the year ahead. The President also sets out how the European Commission will address the most pressing challenges the European Union is facing. The speech is followed by a plenary debate.

State of the Union 2018

Every year in September, the President of the European Commission delivers the State of the European Union (SOTEU) address before the European Parliament, taking stock of the past year and presenting priorities for the year ahead. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, delivered&nbsp;her speech for 2021&nbsp;on 15 of September. It&nbsp;was&nbsp;followed by a plenary debate with members of the European Parliament.

The&nbsp; 2021 SOTEU addressed the most pressing questions in challenging times for Europe. The EU reached its goal to have 70% of the population fully vaccinated, but the coronavirus pandemic still continues to impact all aspects of European society. “We have 1.8 billion additional doses secured. This is enough for us and our neighbourhood when booster shots are needed. Let’s do everything possible to ensure that this does not turn into a pandemic of the unvaccinated”, said the President of the European Commission and added:" I am proposing a new health preparedness and resilience mission for the whole of the EU. And it should be backed up by Team Europe investment of EUR 50 billion by 2027. “

She focused also on the economic recovery after the pandemics.&nbsp;She highlighted that, with the Green Deal, the EU was the first major economy to present comprehensive legislation in this area and promised to support developing countries&nbsp;by doubling&nbsp;funding for biodiversity, pledging an additional €4 billion for climate finance until 2027 to support their green transition.

The President of the EC addressed also the situation in Afghanistan and promised to increase&nbsp;" again humanitarian aid for Afghanistan by 100 million euro.” Speaking about foreign and security policy, she called for a European Cyber Defence Policy and a new European Cyber Resilience Act and announced a summit on European defence to be held under the French Presidency. In her speech she&nbsp;touched as well&nbsp;upon rule of law, migration, protection of journalists or young people in the EU.

In their responses the leaders of political groups in the EP and other MEPs challenged the President of the EC on vaccination&nbsp;policy, more ambitious climate legislation, social measures, rule of law, defence plans and other important topics.

The State of the European Union debate is always a key moment to demonstrate the European Commission’s accountability towards the EU’s democratically elected representatives.&nbsp;

State of the European Union 2021

Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the European Commission, will deliver her first State of the European Union Address on 16 September 2020.

Every year in September, the President of the European Commission delivers his State of the European Union Address before the European Parliament, taking stock of achievements of the past year and presenting priorities for the year ahead. The President also sets out how the European Commission will address the most pressing challenges the European Union is facing. The speech is followed by a plenary debate.

State of the European Union 2020

Press point by French MEPs following the debate on the State of the European Union 2023

Arrivals, doorsteps and general atmosphere prior to the debate on the State of the European Union 2023

EP Plenary session - SOTEU 2022 - State of the Union speech

Press Seminar on the State of the Union

State of the European Union - Debate

State of the European Union 2020 (SotEU) - MEP Debate

State of the Union - SOTEU - EP Press point by David SASSOLI, EP President

EP Plenary session - State of the Union

State of the European Union 2020 (SotEU) - Opening statement by Ursula VON DER LEYEN, EC President

State of the European Union debate: Statements by Political group Leaders

State of the European Union 2020 (SotEU) - Debate on Migration

EP Plenary session - State of the Union (SotEU)

EP Plenary - Statement by the President of the Commission Debate on the State of the Union 2018

State of the Union 2018 -  EP Political group leaders  and MEP Debate

State of the Union 2018 -  statement by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC

State of the Union - MEP arrivals and ambiance shots

Live replay of the Debate on State of the Union 2018: Round of political group speakers. Statement by Ryszard Antoni LEGUTKO (PL), ECR group leader (co-chair)

Ryszard Antoni LEGUTKO (PL), ECR group leader (co-chair): round of political group speakers - Debate on State of the Union 2018 (10:14 - 10:19)

Live replay of the statement by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC during the State of the Union 2017 during the plenary session in Satrsbourg (11-14/09/2017)

(02) State of the Union 2017: statement by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC (9:12 - 9:26)

During the EP plenary session (11-14 September 2017) in Strasbourg,&nbsp;Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, expresses himself on the State of the Union 2017&nbsp;(2nd part): on freedom, equality and the rule of law, the protection of Europe's external borders, the enlagement of the European Union and Turkey,&nbsp;European Stabilisation Mechanism (ESM), the need a European Minister of Economy and Finance, fight against terrorism and defence.

State of the Union 2017: extracts from the address by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC (2nd part)

During the EP plenary session (11-14 September 2017) in Strasbourg,&nbsp;Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, expresses himself ion the State of the Union 2017&nbsp;(3rd part):&nbsp;&nbsp;European elections (longer campaign, trans-national lists, summit in Romania before the elections),&nbsp;on support to French President Macron's ideao to organize democratic conventions in 2018, on merging of the European&nbsp;Council and Commission presidencies. and on the Commission budget 2018.

State of the Union 2017: extracts from the address by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC (3rd part)

Live replay - SOTEU 2017 - MEPs questions and interventions, during the plenary session in Strasbourg (11-14/09/2017)

(04)  Debate on the State of the Union: MEPs questions and interventions (11:42 - 11:49)

During the EP plenary session (11-14 September 2017) in Strasbourg,&nbsp;MEPs debate on the&nbsp;State of the Union 2017 (1st part). Statements by Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Gianni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), Syed KAMALL (ECR, UK), Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), Patrick LE HYARIC (GUE/NGL, FR), Philippe LAMBERTS (Greens/EFA, BE) and Nigel FARAGE (EFDD, UK).

State of the Union 2017: extracts from the MEPs' debate (1st part)

During the EP plenary session (11-14 September 2017) in Strasbourg,&nbsp;MEPs debate on the&nbsp;State of the Union 2017 (2nd part). Statements by Janusz LEWANDOWSKI (EPP, PL), Sergei STANISHEV (S&amp;D, BG),&nbsp; Josep-Maria TERRICABRAS (Greens/EFA, ES), Esteban GONZALEZ PONS (EPP, ES), Juan Fernando LOPEZ AGUILAR (S&amp;D, ES), Guy VERHOFSTADT, Gianni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT) and Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE).

State of the Union 2017: extracts from the MEPs' debate (2nd part)

(05)  Debate on the State of the Union: MEPs questions and interventions (11:49 - 12:03)

(02) Debate on the State of the Union: MEPs questions and interventions (11:17 - 11:31)

(03) Debate on the State of the Union: MEPs questions and interventions (11:31 - 11:42)

(01) Debate on the State of the Union: MEPs questions and interventions (11:02 - 11:17)

(05) State of the Union 2017: statement by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC and opening of the debate by Antonio TAJANI, EP President(9:55 - 10:10)

(03) State of the Union 2017: statement by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC (9:26 - 9:41)

(04) State of the Union 2017: statement by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC (9:41 - 9:55)

(01) State of the Union 2017: statement by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC (9:06 - 9:12)

During the EP plenary session (11-14 September 2017) in Strasbourg,&nbsp;Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, expresses himself on the State of the Union 2017&nbsp;(1st part): on the European Parliament as the pulsing heart of Europe, the future of Europe, Employment, European trade agenda environment, Cybersecurity Agency, and migration.

State of the Union 2017: extracts from the address by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC (1st part)

During the EP plenary session (11-14 September 2017) in Strasbourg,&nbsp;Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC replies to MEPs on the&nbsp;State of the Union 2017.

State of the Union 2017: extracts from the replies by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC

Live replay of EP Plenary session - Key debate State of the Union 2016 I-125464 // European Parliament and Commission, Strasbourg, EP Plenary session, Hemicycle #SOTEU - On the "shared responsability" - On the Commission's work programme - On the roaming Directive - On the role of the European Commissioners during elections - On the European values and heritage Standing ovation

(8) EP Plenary session: State of the Union 2016 - statement by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC. Speech Jean-Claude JUNCKER (French) (9:49 - 9:57)

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