About: SOTEU
ALMA, the EU’s new programme to help young people find work abroad
The pandemic has deepened the unemployment crisis among young people, especially in Europe's south. A new work placement scheme is now meant to counter youth unemployment across the bloc, the European Commission has said.
Von der Leyen rides two horses on EU defence
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made a pitch on Wednesday (15 September) for stronger European defence, saying the bloc needs to boost its own military capacity but fell short of setting out clear proposals, particularly on how this...
#SOTEU: The nitty-gritty of von der Leyen’s message for Europe
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her state of the union address in the European Parliament on Wednesday (15 September), praising the EU's efforts in dealing with the pandemic and economic recovery. She stressed the importance of working on Europe's strategic economy, a stronger health union, defence, and the green and digital transition.
Von der Leyen set to defend COVID strategy in State of the EU speech
European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, is expected to tout the success of the institution’s vaccine strategy and the Covid certificate in her State of the EU speech on 15 September, in which Europe’s global status and role will have increased prominence following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Von der Leyen outlines path towards ‘new vitality’ in post-corona world
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged in her first ‘State of the Union’ address that Europe will lead the way towards a “new vitality” following the COVID-19 crisis, including a more “human” and greener economy.
Commission promises to remedy health cuts made by EU leaders
In her first State of the Union speech, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the need to build a stronger European Health Union, lashing out at the member states for having scrapped the ambitious EU4Health programme embedded in the recovery fund.
EU diplomacy needs more courage to address Russia, Turkey, new White House
The EU needs to be more courageous in its diplomacy, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday (16 September), chiding member states for an ineffective foreign policy and urging progress on a US-style sanctions framework targeting human rights abusers worldwide.
Von der Leyen charts Europe’s ‘digital decade’, evades platform economy challenge
Commission President von der Leyen has laid out her vision for the development of digital policy in the EU, with an accelerated commitment to innovation in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.
Von der Leyen: European values are not for sale
In her first State of the Union speech, delivered on Wednesday (16 September), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen positioned herself as a bulwark against the unravelling of EU values that is already underway in many of the member states.
‘We can do it!’: EU chief announces 55% emissions reduction target for 2030
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans on Wednesday (16 September) to target a 55% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 as part of a broader European Green Deal programme aimed at reaching "climate neutrality" by mid-century.
#SOTEU: Von der Leyen takes stock and looks to the future
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gave her first State of the European Union address on Wednesday (16 September), catch up here on the main points covered by the speech and analysis on all the details.
Cohesion – the big ‘absent’ from Juncker’s SOTEU speech
European regions and cities were left wondering about the noticeable absence of Cohesion policy in Jean-Claude Juncker’s State of the Union speech in the European Parliament on Wednesday (12 September). They were particularly irked by his failure to highlight the positive role of regions in handling migration.
MEPs trigger Article 7 against Hungary after evasive Juncker speech
MEPs voted en masse to trigger Article 7 proceedings against Hungary on Wednesday (12 September), although Jean-Claude Juncker's early morning Strasbourg speech failed to send much of a clear signal against Budapest's alleged rule of law violations.
Juncker paints ‘big picture’ of EU’s global role
Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker stayed away from major legislative proposals in his annual address to Parliament, preferring to focus on the “big picture” of how the EU can assert its power in a hostile international environment.
Juncker goes to war against disinformation and online terrorist content
The European Commission is set to pursue a crackdown on the spread of online terrorist content and disinformation, its president Jean-Claude Junker announced in his State of the Union address on Wednesday (12 September).
‘Scientifically right’: Juncker backs deeper carbon cuts in SOTEU speech
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker urged the European Union on Wednesday (12 September) to raise its goals for limiting climate change, but did not mention the forthcoming 2050 strategy. EURACTIV’s partner Climate Home News reports.
Juncker to propose breaking dollar’s dominance in global markets
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is expected to propose today (12 September) a bigger role for the euro in international markets and more efficient decision-making in EU foreign policy in his state of the union speech, European diplomats said.
Judging Juncker: From first speech to last
Before Jean-Claude Juncker's final State of the Union address to this European Parliament on Wednesday (12 September), EURACTIV takes a look at his first speech from 2015 to see how the Commission president has done over the last three years.
Brexit absent from Commissioners’ input for state of the EU speech
Negotiations about the UK's orderly exit and future relations with the EU did not feature in the discussions the European Commission’s top echelons held in preparation for President Jean-Claude Juncker’s last state of the union speech before next year's European elections.
Elections: What should German EU policy look like?
The outcome of the German elections will also shape the future of the EU. What do German associations, unions and civil society organisations demand from the future government with regards to EU financial, social and trade policies? EURACTIV Germany reports.
Commission ignores calls for objectives in new industrial strategy
The European Commission did not include new strategic objectives and targets in its industrial package unveiled on Monday (18 September), stressing instead that a master plan already exists for European industry.
Juncker’s pledge to ‘make the planet great again’ fails to satisfy
Environmental groups and MEPs were left disappointed by Jean-Claude Juncker’s State of the Union address on Wednesday (13 September), after the Commission president only mentioned climate change anecdotally.
Juncker’s trade push starts with Australia, New Zealand
As anticipated in recent weeks, trade topped the Juncker Commission’s priorities for the rest of its mandate.