Ursula von der Leyen delivers SOTEU address in Strasbourg; Budget 2028–34 priorities and revenue sources.

State of the European Union 2026: Follow the debate | Topics | European Parliament

Last updated: 31-08-2026 - 12:29

State of the European Union 2026: Follow the debate

MEPs will review current challenges and plans to tackle them with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 16 September 2026.

What is the State of the European Union (SOTEU) address?

Why is the State of the EU debate important?

What will be the focus of the 2026 SOTEU debate?

Where to follow the SOTEU address and debate

The 2026 State of the European Union debate will take place in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday 16 September, after the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, addresses MEPs in plenary.

The State of the European Union (SOTEU) address happens in September each year during the European Parliament’s first plenary session after the summer break. The president of the European Commission looks back over the past year, takes stock of achievements and shortcomings and presents the priorities for the year ahead. The president also sets out how the Commission intends to address the most pressing challenges facing the European Union today and outlines ideas for shaping its future.

After an opening statement by Parliament’s president , Ursula von der Leyen will address MEPs. The address will be followed by interventions by political group leaders, the Council presidency and MEPs.

This year will be Ursula von der Leyen’s second State of the European Union address since she was re-elected as Commission president in July 2024.

A salient moment in the political year, this annual event is intended to enhance democratic accountability by making EU-level priorities more transparent and communicating them to the general public.

The debate following the address by the Commission president is one of the ways in which the Parliament is able to hold the Commission to account. It offers members of the European Parliament an opportunity to scrutinise the work of the European Commission on key issues and to ask the questions that concern European citizens. In this way, the event is key to determining the EU’s political priorities for the coming year.

As negotiations with the member states on the EU’s long-term budget for 2028 to 2034 begin in earnest, the debate is likely to focus primarily on what should be the EU’s future priority spending areas and on potential new sources of revenue.

Against the backdrop of ongoing economic and technological change, the need to build sustainable economic resilience and secure the EU’s long-term prosperity is greater than ever. Ways to boost competitiveness , create jobs and grow a stronger, more integrated single market are likely to figure prominently in the debate, with the Commission continuing to work on its “One Europe one market” roadmap.

Ways to boost Europe’s digital economy , make the most of the opportunities offered by AI, and create new opportunities for businesses and consumers, while addressing the challenges and safeguarding fundamental rights may also feature.

After another summer of extreme heatwaves and record wildfires, MEPs are also likely to grill the Commission president on future plans for climate policy , adaptation and solidarity between EU countries.

The volatile geopolitical environment, and the need to invest in defence and security will also likely feature, with Russia still waging its war on Ukraine on the EU’s eastern border. The energy crisis provoked by the war between the US-Israeli coalition and Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is another likely topic.

Other possible subjects include the diversification of trade relations, as the EU seeks to build on its links with like-minded countries, and the future possible enlargement of the European Union to Ukraine and the Western Balkans.

The address and the debate will be streamed live on Parliament’s website on Wednesday 16 September from 9.00 CEST. Interpretation will be available in all the EU’s 24 official languages as well as in international sign language. You can also watch live on Facebook , LinkedIn , YouTube or TikTok and join the discussion with the hashtag #SOTEU there or on our other social media channels, including X , Instagram and WhatsApp . Afterwards, you will find photos and videos of the event on Parliament’s multimedia centre website.

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