On 10 September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will deliver her State of the Union address in the European Parliament. This annual speech reviews the Commission’s work over the past year and sets out priorities for the year ahead. It is one of the EU’s most important political events and a key expression of democratic oversight by EU citizens through their elected representatives. This year, the focus will be on economic, budgetary, and security issues.
“The State of the Union is one of those instruments that brings more openness and transparency,” said Jan Truszczyński, former Polish ambassador to the EU and Poland’s chief negotiator for EU accession, in an interview with Newseria. “It is a political programmatic document—it explains what the Commission intends to do in the coming year, what it commits to, and how it assesses the overall state of the Union and its place in the world among partners, rivals, and allies.”
The address, followed by a debate with Members of the European Parliament, is designed to strengthen accountability. “It is a manifestation of democratic control exercised by citizens through their representatives in Parliament over the Commission’s activities,” emphasized Katarzyna Smyk, Head of the European Commission Representation in Poland.
Key Priorities and Context
This will be von der Leyen’s first State of the Union in her second mandate. Last year’s speech in 2023 highlighted the European Green Deal, economic competitiveness, social policies, digital technologies and AI, migration, and support for Ukraine. In 2022, she symbolically invited two Polish women who had supported Ukrainian refugees, underscoring European solidarity.
According to Smyk, this year’s address will both take stock of the new Commission’s first months and set out fresh initiatives. She expects topics relevant for Poland, including security, competitiveness, and the EU’s global role.
Security is set to dominate. Von der Leyen has already pledged to strengthen EU defense capacity, deterrence, and societal preparedness to protect common values. This reflects citizens’ views: according to Eurobarometer, 71% of Europeans believe the EU must increase defense production capacity, while 77% support a common defense and security policy.
Economic and Budgetary Outlook
Economy-related issues will also feature prominently. “Poland, as an active participant in the internal market, stands to gain a lot from its deepening and from removing barriers that would create new growth opportunities and improve living standards,” Smyk noted.
Eurobarometer data from December 2024 shows that 67% of EU citizens see the Union as a stable place in an uncertain world, and a similar share agree that the EU has the tools to defend its economic interests globally.
The upcoming address is also expected to reference the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the EU’s long-term budget, which will be crucial after 2027. A proposal currently foresees around €2 trillion, including €300 billion for agriculture, €218 billion for cohesion policy, €451 billion for competitiveness and innovation, and €131 billion for defense and space. It is the most ambitious financial project in EU history and requires unanimous approval by member states and the European Parliament.
“The coming year will revolve around the debate on how this budget should be structured to better finance the EU’s needs for the next decade,” Smyk said.
